Leaning Tower of Perth: Scott Street Chimney Declares Itself ‘Basically Pisa’, Demands Agent

By Fergus Lintel, Architecture & Ego Correspondent

PERTH — A chimney stack beside Scott Street Car Park has become the most talked-about structure in the Fair City since the bridge, after it was judged “unsafe” this week and promptly began behaving like a minor celebrity.

Emergency services were called just after noon on Wednesday to look at what was described as a “dangerous” chimney and a cracked wall. Police Scotland and Perth and Kinross Council closed South Methven Street between St Paul’s Square and South Street, the fire service put an exclusion zone round the building, and after a structural engineer’s assessment a cordon was set up around 58–64 South Methven Street. No injuries have been reported.

The chimney, for its part, has taken none of this humbly. “Pisa took 199 years to get this lean,” it is understood to have said, at an angle. “I did it in a week. Get me an agent. Get me a Netflix thing.”

Sources close to the stack say it has asked to be referred to as “The Leaning Tower of Perth”, has requested a dressing room in the closed car park, and is “workshopping a signature tilt”. Pigeons have formed an orderly fan club on its cope and are refusing to leave without autographs.

The cordon tape, meanwhile, has been praised by several passers-by as “the most coherent public art installation the city has commissioned”, and a row of traffic cones has reportedly asked to be credited as co-stars.

None of the fun, it must be said, is shared by the people who actually live there. Residents in the affected South Methven Street properties were moved out into temporary accommodation arranged by the council — which is miserable, disruptive and nobody’s idea of a weekend. Perthetic sends them a large flask of tea, a warm duvet and the hope of being home soon. Firefighters, police and council staff were described by everyone as calm, kind and patient, which is more than can be said for the chimney.

The council says demolition contractors were on site to help decide next steps, that businesses in the cordon are being supported, and that “Open for Business” signs will go up so shops in the pedestrian zone keep their footfall. Please do go and buy something from them. The road closure has already been reduced to the southbound carriageways, with northbound traffic restored; the car park was due to be reviewed on Friday with a view to a partial reopening.

Buses that usually stop on South Methven Street and County Place are diverting via North Methven Street, Atholl Street and Caledonian Road to Glasgow Road — a route the chimney described as “my tour”. For Thursday’s earlier roadworks coverage, see <a href=”scott-street-chimney.html”>our Roadworks report</a>.

The real story: Real: The Courier (23 Oct 2026) — emergency services called to Scott Street Car Park Wed after 'dangerous' chimney and cracked wall; South Methven St closed St Paul's Sq–South St; cordon 58–64 South Methven St; residents in temporary accommodation; demolition contractors assessing; 'Open for Business' signage; closure reduced to southbound; car park review Friday; buses diverted. No injuries reported.