It's time to step aside

May 15 2009 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

A LEADING Perth businessman yesterday called for potential City Hall developers Wharfside Regeneration to step aside and pave the way for ambitious city centre redevelopment.

John Bullough, managing director of McEwens of Perth, pictured inset, poured scorn over the London-based development company’s recently trumpeted and watered-down plans to team up with local charity Artspace and create a speciality arts and shopping centre.

He said several more exciting and viable propositions were in the pipeline.

Wharfside’s new-look plans were at odds with original designs to dramatically transform the long-vacant Edwardian building. Now the local authority is seeking detailed plans of the refurbishment proposals.

That will trigger further delays and Mr Bullough, an outspoken critic of the original Wharfside City Hall development, said the building had been allowed to lie dormant and decaying in the heart of the city for too long.

And he branded the recently-unveiled “Plan B” as “a lame development with no hope of success.”

Mr Bullough said: “Wharfside have failed to facilitate the development of the City Hall and have failed thus far to fulfil the terms of their contract with Perth and Kinross Council.

“This failure to complete on what they promised has done significant damage to our city centre. This cannot be blamed on the credit crunch, as the problems began long before that.

“This debacle has cost the taxpayer and Wharfside dearly, so it’s no surprise that Wharfside are desperately trying to pull something out of the bag at the last minute.

“But this last-ditch attempt is just as unconvincing as the first failed plan.”

Mr Bullough said the developers, whose contract timetable with the council runs out at the end of the month, had simply thrown in the carrot of building community space, in the hope that it might seduce the local authority into extending their contract.

“But there is no indication of how they would pay for its development and maintenance,” he said. “Wharfside have clearly shown incompetence as developers up to this point. Why throw good money after bad?”

Mr Bullough personally argued the case for demolition to create a market square in a high-profile debate called by MP Pete Wishart.

But he revealed: “There are several alternative plans that are due to be presented to the council when the contract with Wharfside expires at the end of this month. These include:

lFull retention of the City Hall as a retail/community space (not Wharfside).

lFull demolition of the City Hall to create a piazza/market square.

lPart demolition of the City Hall leaving a smaller City Hall to house the tourist office and other community space whilst leaving enough space for a market square.

Mr Bullough continued: “In essence, Wharfside are expecting to get a second bite at the cherry and receive preferential treatment in the selection of a new plan.

“After letting down all the citizens of Perth so badly over the past three years, this seems completely unacceptable and goes against the principal of healthy competition.

“If Wharfside fails to fulfil its contractual obligations in the next two weeks, I suggest they should be put to the back of the queue, given the time and money that they have already wasted

“Let the council use the opportunity of this expired contract to right the wrong Wharfside has done to Perth and find a vibrant and achievable alternative.

“Let’s hope that our council have it within their power to make a quick and creative decision about the City Hall’s future.

“An area that could be the beating heart of Perth has become septic to our city, infecting all the shops around it with its decrepit vacancy.

“There are some great plans for the future of the City Hall and St John’s Square, which could potentially develop into the finest example of public and private co-operation in Perth’s history.

“I have always said that our primary objective must be to create a Unique Selling Point (USP) for Perth.That is what we need to ensure long-term success for our city centre.’’

The PA attempted to contact Wharfside before going to press yesterday but nobody was available to comment at the time.

Speaking earlier after unveiling the re-worked City Hall project, Brian Tanner, of Wharfside, said: “Our plans have the backing of a wide variety of artists and retailers.

“This includes award-winning musician Loopshaunt, who has just been signed to a prestigious record deal – he wants to set up a record store within the premises.

“This is a hugely exciting development. With the right store and on-hand knowledge we can attract specialist buyers from across Scotland.

“I like what Artspace does and want to be part of it,” he said.