Fresh Perth City Hall demolition bid mounted
February 18 2014
An application for listed building consent outlines the council’s intent to revert to its original plan to introduce a new public space in the form of a new city square, which could double as an outdoor markets and events area.
This would also serve to open up views of the A-listed John’s Kirk although it is dependent upon reaching agreement with Historic Scotland - who must be convinced that the plans have been formulated in full accordance with the provisions of SHEP.
Throwing a further spanner in the works is a left-field bid by The Seventy Group to transform the venue into a five-star hotel named ‘The Perth City Grand’ via a separate planning application - also expected to land on officers desks later today.
Perth City Market Trust meanwhile say that they are still pursuing their plans for an indoor market and are in process of preparing a fully-funded business plan.
8 Comments
#1 Posted by bonvivant on 18 Feb 2014 at 12:49 PM
I would love to know where all of these market traders currently operate, who are going to flood into Perth once this blank, windswept piazza is established.
#2 Posted by Partick Bateman on 18 Feb 2014 at 13:43 PM
They are probably the same ones who are going to flood into Perth once the indoor market is established.
#3 Posted by Steve McGilvray on 18 Feb 2014 at 14:36 PM
The city square concept works in lots of european cities and with a little foresight it can work in Perth. The city hall is past it's sell by date and we need to find better ways of using the space. Markets should not be the only option, outdoor cafes aand a covered area are worth considering.
#4 Posted by guest01 on 18 Feb 2014 at 15:39 PM
They are probably the same market traders who currently sell goods at the outdoor market held adjacent to the proposed square. Seems a much better location for them than where they are currently situated crammed together right outside the main entrance to the St Johns Centre.
#5 Posted by ella h on 18 Feb 2014 at 20:09 PM
Er, they turn down community attempt to open market and show, er, a market? Cant they see that the same thing could be acheived with the existing building. Who wants an outdoor events and market in Perth? We want our heritage preserved.
#6 Posted by Ian Nairn Jr on 19 Feb 2014 at 09:07 AM
Okay, so we lose another fine building. But on the plus side the people of Perth will be all set for giant pretzels and sports socks.
#7 Posted by wonky on 19 Feb 2014 at 12:37 PM
If the council as so determined to push this piazza idea through why can't we have an imaginative design proposal at least- couldn't we have the grand main entrance & even the rear of the building as 'gates' to the square? Covering with a glass canopy of some kind? The nature of the weather in Scotland is not always conducive to cafe culture- admittedly we have adapted but the promise of cover from the town hall (as an inddor market etc) seems me to be a strong argument for it's retention.
#8 Posted by Chris on 20 Feb 2014 at 11:20 AM
Sure let's demolish a fine building so we can throw up a few market stalls on those two days of sunshine. How european of us.
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