Perth Harbour, which has been facing an uncertain future, should look towards Europe to attract economic investment, it has been claimed.
On a visit to the city, Dr Ian Duncan, Scottish Conservative candidate for the European election, said he believed that European aid could boost the loss-making harbour’s place within the Scottish and local economy, generating jobs locally and revitalising its future prospects.
“Perth harbour is an asset to the city,” said Dr Duncan.
“At a time when oil interests are dominating the harbours of Scotland’s eastern seaboard and pricing out other users, Perth is well placed to fill this niche, whether it be the import and export of timber, fish meal or other agricultural products.
“It is over 10 years since Perth harbour received any European money. Let’s see if we can unlock some European funds to help the development of Perth harbour.”
Dr Duncan’s observations come in the wake of investigations to see whether the sale of large swathes of council-owned land at Perth harbour would best serve the future prosperity of the port.
Councillors agreed earlier this year to gauge private sector interest in acquiring the land.
“This will help inform the council in reaching a decision as to how best to maximise the harbour’s contribution to the economic development of Perth and Kinross,” David Littlejohn, head of planning and regeneration, told councillors at the time.
“The Perth City Plan promotes the council’s ambitions for enhanced activity along the riverside and increased use of the river for recreation as part of the drive to grow year-round tourism in the city and its environs.
“Pragmatically, the industrial nature of the harbour area severely limits leisure-related opportunities and, therefore, the council has continued to operate the harbour as an industrial and commercial facility in an effort to promote trade. Despite this, trade and income has continued to decline.
“Perth harbour’s decline has been more or less continual and now it has once again become constrained by its geography in the sense that the largest vessels that can berth at Perth are the smallest being built commercially.”
The council has invested nearly £2 millionin Perth harbour over the last 20 years and, if it retains its holdings, more investment will be required, hought to be around £5.7m.
MSPs Murdo Fraser and Liz Smith and Perth city councillor Heather Stewart joined Dr Duncan on the visit to the harbour.
“It was important to meet with (harbourmaster) Captain Nick Horner in order to gain a greater understanding of the opportunities and challenges currently facing the harbour,” said Mr Fraser.