Pigeon dropping problem delays disability ramp opening at Perth Sheriff Court
It's been hit by a string of problems.
A disability ramp which has cost the taxpayer £200,000 cannot be opened to the public - because of pigeon droppings.
The cursed project to create wheelchair access to listed Perth Sheriff Court has been beset by a series of problems and branded "a massive white elephant."
The latest issue to prevent the opening - more than eight months after work started - is the mess created by nesting pigeons above the ramp.
The birds droppings have made the ramp a potential skid hazard for anyone trying to use a wheelchair on it or walk up it.
Engineers involved in the project have now discussed erecting a netting structure to prevent the birds sitting on ledged areas above the huge ramp.
A court source said: "This has been an absolute shambles and a monumental waste of taxpayers' money. It seems to have taken less time to build a new bridge across the Forth than to build this damned ramp.
"There has been delay after delay with the pigeon poo being the latest. It's a farce. Without wishing to sound facetious, for the money they've spent they could have paid staff to carry people into the building for about the next 50 years."
The 30 metre ramp, which intrudes out onto Tay Street at the front of the court, has already started visibly crumbling apart in places despite never being opened to the public.
A string of embedded lights in the stonework have also remained on throughout the day for several months despite no-one being able to access the ramp.
The ramp was built with a handrail, but that was objected to by Historic Scotland and the local authority's planning department because it was deemed not to be appropriate for an A-listed building.
Under a Freedom of Information request, a Scottish Courts Service spokesman said:"It is anticipated that the full final cost of the provision of this access will be in the region of £200,000, including VAT and all fees.
"The start date of this project was the 7 March 2016. Initial proposals for the ramp, to provide improved access at the court, were agreed with Building Control but later refused by Planning and Historic Scotland due to the provision of a handrail to the ramp which was deemed unacceptable for what is an A-listed building.
"After discussions, the slope of the ramp was reduced to 1:21 to avoid the need for a handrail and construction went ahead on this basis. During the work it was discovered that a small difference in the pavement level made it necessary to extend the slope to maintain it at 1:21. This resulted in an Amendment to Warrant and a new Planning / Listed Building application being made.
"Construction of the graded slope was completed in July 2016. However, Building Control then requested that an additional full protective barrier to enclose the side of the slope be installed."
The SCS claimed that even with the amendments the ramp would be open by the end of October, but it remains shut and covered with temporary fencing.
The spokesman said: "The LED lights are controlled via a time clock and are scheduled to be switched on between 8am - 10 am and 3pm - 6pm daily. The lighting on the surface of the ramp is installed to assist partially sighted people to safely use the ramp."
For the previous 200 years, people with mobility issues have been able to enter the building using a side door which is at ground level and does not feature steps.