A wide-ranging public consultation on the future of the Perth City Hall building is set to begin.

The process is to start on Monday 15 February and will run for four weeks.

It is hoped that as many people as possible will take part in the consultation when it starts. The Council wants to hear the opinions of business representatives, community organisations and residents of all ages.

Questionnaires will be sent out to the 1,300 residents on the Council's Viewfinder panel. Surveys will also be distributed to city centre businesses, asking for their comments.

To make sure as may people as possible have a chance to have their say the Council will be running an online survey from 15 February until 15 March 2010. A consultation form will be available to fill in and submit on the Council's website at www.pkc.gov.uk/perthcityhall

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From Wednesday 17 to Wednesday 24 February a public exhibition will be held at St John's Shopping Centre, Perth. The exhibition will be open each day between 10am and 5pm for people to pick up questionnaires, hand in their completed questionnaires and ask Council staff any questions about the future of City Hall.

Five options for the future of the building were identified in a report to a meeting of Full Council on 16 December 2009. These will be explored through the consultation to help the Council make an informed decision.

The options are:

1. To re-use City Hall for another purpose

2. To completely demolish City Hall to create a large new public space

3. To partially demolish City Hall to create a new small public space and keep part of the building

4. To completely demolish City Hall and then create a new building on the site

5. To do nothing, and leave City Hall as it is until the economic climate improves

A poster campaign will help to promote the consultation, and information leaflets will available in Council libraries and offices, and in the Community Campuses in Crieff, Blairgowrie, Perth and Kinross.

Council Leader, Councillor Ian Miller, said: "The Council is committed to finding the correct solution for the City Hall and we are asking the public of Perth and Kinross to help us do that. This next phase will take us a step closer to securing the right future for the building and its surrounding area."

Anyone can request a paper copy of the questionnaire by calling 01738 475000 after 15 February 2010.

(GK/BMcC)