No Timescale to Remove Perth’s South Methven Street Cordon, as Shoppers Learn to Navigate by Red-and-White Tape
Work continues on the unsafe chimney stack. Pedestrians report becoming 'quite good at the long way round'.
A cordon on a Perth street, where the long way round is now the only way round. Photo: Tom Pennington, “City centre Perth - geograph.org.uk - 650203”, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
There is still no timescale for the removal of the cordon on South Methven Street, where engineers are dealing with an unsafe chimney stack, and Perth shoppers are learning to find their way around it.
“I used to walk straight down,” said a Perth woman. “Now I go round by Scott Street, up a bit, across a bit, past a man who sells phone cases, and back down. My step count has never been better.”
Traders inside the cordon say they are keen to reopen, and other businesses have rallied round with signs pointing customers to their temporary arrangements. “Perth looks after its own,” said one shop owner nearby.
The tape itself has become a local landmark. “People give directions using it now,” said a taxi driver. “‘Go to the tape, turn left.’ That’s how you know something’s been there too long.”
Engineers say safety comes first. Perth shoppers agree, but would like the long way round to be a bit shorter, if possible.
The real story: South Methven Street cordon (The Courier)
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I go the long way round too. I’ve found two new shops. Silver lining.
— Ann F., Perth, 31 October 2026 -
‘Go to the tape, turn left.’ I’ve said it twelve times today.
— Taxi Tam, Perth, 31 October 2026
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