A campaign group is hoping to garner interest from Perth residents in its bid to save Perth City Hall.
Members of Save Perth City Hall will meet tonight with other like-minded parties, including Vivian Linacre, a long-term opponent of the move to demolish the historic building, at Willows in St John’s Place in Perth.
Mr Linacre is project managing a bid by Perth City Market Trust (PCMT) to retain the building and convert it into a market hall. Perth and Kinross Council has stated it favours demolishing the building and creating a civic square.
However, with Scottish council elections taking place next Thursday, it is understood that Heritage Scotland will wait until after the elections before making its views known on the City Hall.
Final approval lies with the Scottish government, which will receive a recommendation from Historic Scotland in due course.
Austin Flynn, of the Save Perth City Hall group, told The Courier he would like to see the building used for employment, social and education uses. He is hopeful that more Perth residents will support the move to keep the City Hall.
”I was born around the corner from the City Hall and can remember walking by the back of it in 1939 as a toddler with my father,” he said. ”I hope the council decides not to knock it down as it will be a different field-game for people if that does happen.”
He continued: ”Heritage Scotland is in a difficult position regarding the City Hall. If it is decided to demolish it, it will be a huge loss to Perth and a ‘cop-out’.
”I’ve talked to Mr Linacre and discussed the possibility of making the building used for employment, social and education purposes.”
Mr Flynn said he has also spoken to Denis Munro, former planning chief with Perth and Kinross Council, and wants ”some organisation” of the Save Perth City Hall group. Mr Munro was a founding member of PCMT.
Tonight’s open session will begin at 6.30pm.