A top entrepreneur has warned Perth harbour is facing a “ruinous end” unless council chiefs beef up investment.
Simon Howie, the owner of an award-winning chain of butchers, has fired off a strongly worded caution to councillors after they voted against selling off the once- thriving port, despite interest from potential buyers.
It is understood the riverside harbour is running at a loss of between £200,000 and £260,000 each year.
Mr Howie, who also took the reins at the Calport shipping service in 2008, had bid to take the port off the council’s hands during a recent marketing drive.
He offered a “significant six-figure sum” and his firm was one of several groups which had expressed an interest.
The local authority stressed that the harbour was never placed on the market and said council chiefs simply wanted to “test the water”.
Last month, following behind-closed-doors discussions, councillors voted to retain ownership of the facility.
In his letter to councillors, Mr Howie said: “The stark truth is that Perth is a river port which is hampered greatly by the fact it is located so far in-land. Its users and operators have turned their backs to such an extent that fewer ships than ever are making the journey to Perth.”
He said that high tolls, pipelines which cross the Tay and a lack of water due to the silting up of the river were limiting factors, causing a downturn in vessels.
Traders in marine-related food ingredients such as fish meal and organic soya the most common products handled at the port had made it clear to council officers that they were now looking at alternative ports “due to the complexity of bringing ships into one which only has 14 days per month where there is adequate depth of water to accommodate even the smallest of coaster vessels”, he went on.
Mr Howie said: “Perth port is potentially facing a ruinous though avoidable end and, in short, if it loses the fish meal customer then it will be all but finished.
“It has experienced under-investment, both in terms of financial and effective management resources . . .
“The port users see Perth and Kinross Council as an absentee landlord who does very little to demonstrate genuine interest in its commercial operations and benefits to the city, employees and wider community.”
In his letter, Mr Howie signs off: “The tone of my letter reflects the huge feeling of frustration after a number of years of promises from the council that things would move on. It is very disheartening that there will be no new blood or entrepreneurial drive added to the ownership.”
A spokesperson for Perth and Kinross Council said: “Elected members decided on February 25 not to proceed with marketing Perth harbour. Members asked officers to consider options for alternative ways to develop the harbour and give it a robust future under council ownership.”