Fair City of Perth wins back its city status

THE champagne was flowing on the banks of the Tay as Perth – the capital of Scotland for almost five centuries – celebrated regaining its city status after almost 40 years.

Last year, when the “Fair City” submitted its bid for the restoration of its ancient civic title, Perth-born Sir David Edward, a former judge at the European Court of Justice, had branded the loss of city status following local government reorganisation in 1975 as “an act of bureaucratic vandalism”.

But last night there was unbridled joy across the historic Royal Burgh in the wake of the UK government’s announcement that Perth, together with Chelmsford in England and St Asaph in Wales – a community with a population of only 3,500 – are to gain city status to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

Perth – the capital of Scotland from the 9th to 15th centuries – will now become Scotland’s seventh city, alongside Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee, Inverness and Stirling.

Dr John Hulbert, provost of Perth and Kinross who led the bid for city status, said the award would herald a “glorious new chapter in Perth’s long history”.

He said: “Full restoration of its ancient dignity is long overdue. This decision reflects the fact that Perth is at the forefront of Scottish life. It is located at the hub of Scotland’s transport network, at the gateway to the Highlands, and in the midst of remarkable scenery.”

He said the award of city status would be more than a symbolic gesture and would be “hugely significant” in raising Perth’s profile across the globe and in developing the economic opportunities afforded by becoming part of the Scottish Government’s Cities Alliance.

Dr Hulbert said: “Having city status restored means a great deal. It takes us to a new level.

“Eighteen months ago I would have said it was really a matter of prestige and dignity, but recently it has become far more.

“The Scottish Government has now appointed Nicola Sturgeon as the minister for cities and is developing strategies through the Cities Alliance. We will now seek to build on our city status success for the benefit of our people and our communities.”

Dr Hulbert added: “This can only be an added impetus to the prosperity of Perth and our aim of marketing it as a dynamic small European city.”

Stuart Cosgrove, the Channel 4 executive and football pundit, who was born in Perth, said: “It always was a city. I lived in Letham, a housing scheme close to the city boundaries, and there was a sign at the bottom of the road – ‘Welcome to the City of Perth’.

“I went to school near St Ninian’s Cathedral, another measure of city status. So it’s great we are a city and always have been and always will be, until the day naturally arrives when Perth is a megalopolis.”

First Minister Alex Salmond, who backed the Perth bid, also welcomed the burgh’s success.

He said: “This is fantastic news for the City of Perth and indeed for the whole of Scotland.

“To have the title of city restored rightly to this ancient capital is entirely fitting during this Diamond Jubilee year.”

Roots buried deep in pre-history

• Perth’s name comes from a Pictish word for “copse”.

• The area surrounding the modern town is known to have been settled by Mesolithic hunter-gatherers, who arrived there more than 8,000 years ago.

• The most recent population estimate of Perth is 44,820.

• Perth has been known as the Fair City since the publication of the story Fair Maid of Perth by Sir Walter Scott in 1828.

• Preparations for the concert hall revealed evidence of a medieval castle, documented in the 12th century, but destroyed by flood in 1209.

• Perth Museum and Art Gallery is recognised as one of the oldest provincial museums in Scotland.

• The origins of theatre in Perth can be traced back to the 16th century. More recently, Hollywood stars Ewan McGregor and Donald Sutherland learned their craft here.

wales

St Asaph, a town in Denbighshire with a population of just 3,400, was given odds of 33/1 by the bookies to achieve city status. Its bid was led by the local mayor and the Bishop of St Asaph, who argued the status “would serve to regulate a situation which, for years, has meant that St Asaph has been devalued in comparison with all of the other ancient cathedral cities in Wales, which have been granted the status by right”.

England

Chelmsford, the first town in Essex to be awarded city status, has a population of nearly 160,000. It is home to Essex County cricket team and Anglia Ruskin University, and is one of the fast-growing towns in the south-east of England. It has Roman origins, and in 1199 King John granted it a royal charter so a weekly market could be held. It became Essex’s county town in 1218 – a position it still holds.