Public pressure could decide the future of Perth City Hall, it has been claimed.
In the wake of a three-month deferral in making a decision on what should happen to the listed Edwardian building, one of the groups hoping to revitalise the hall is looking for “people power” to convince the council of the merits of its scheme.
“We are into extra-time, if not injury time,” said a spokesman for Perth Market Place Ltd.
“We now have a fixed date of October 7 for a decision, which has to be final closure.
“Now is the time for the electorate to convince elected members that a food market combined with a new community hall (in the lesser city hall) is the ideal solution.”
The development was one of two options being considered by councillors on Wednesday the other being a luxury 32-suite boutique hotel and had the advantage of being recommended by council officials as the preferred bidder.
However, councillors, led by administration leader councillor Ian Miller, decided that they remained unconvinced by the commercial viability of either of the bids or their potential benefit to the Perth economy.
By a vote of 29 to six, it was agreed to defer the decision on a preferred bidder until October 7, to allow the council to “highlight their concerns” to Historic Scotland and identify “a realistic way forward”.
Some supporters of retaining the hall described this as a “way of keeping the door open” for demolition to make way for a city square.
“The councillors seem hell-bent on putting obstacles in the way of finding a new use for the city hall. They won’t be happy until it has been knocked down,” said George Findlay of Scone.
Those calling for a deferral felt their hand had been strengthened after it emerged that the food market might sell 70% noon-food items.
In an attempt to clarify their position, the spokesman for Perth Market Place Limited said: “This will be Scotland’s first fresh food market hall. The priority, however, is to get the building opened and in use quickly.
“In order to get it filled as early as possible, we need, in the first year or two, to have it occupied. It will build up over a few years to be 100% fresh food.
“We will be resuming dialogue with Historic Scotland, who have always given our scheme their support.”
The spokesman said expert estimates predicted that the food hall and community hall would attract 750,000 visitors to the city.
Simon Wilson, of the Seventy Group, which is behind the hotel bid, said he is “disappointed” by the delay.
“As far as I am concerned, there is no better, viable alternative for that building,” he said.