HE is a well-known lover of beautiful traditional architecture and frequently airs his views on modern design and urban planning.

And he caused more than a ripple of controversy when, in 1984, he launched an unprecedented attack on modern architecture, branding an extension to the National Gallery in London a "monstrous carbuncle".

Now Prince Charles has intervened in plans to demolish Perth City Hall, insisting the 100-year-old listed building should be re-used rather than knocked down.

In November, Perth and Kinross Council voted to bulldoze the building. It had been a leading musical venue since 1911, and hosted events from Gaelic Mods to Margaret Thatcher's first speech as Prime Minister in 1979 to the Scottish Conservatives.  

Councillors want to spend £4.4 million replacing it with a new civic square. Before they can do so, however, Historic Scotland has to approve the demolition plan.

The Prince's Regeneration Trust, one of 19 charities founded by Prince Charles, has made representations to Historic Scotland, making clear its royal president is against the plans.

In her letter, Trust chief executive Ros Kerslake said the saga had been followed by the trust and the Prince and they would offer their assistance to any group with a new use for the building.

She wrote: "We, together with our President, HRH The Duke of Rothesay, strongly feel the option of reusing this significant building should be given further opportunity, helping to ensure a positive and sustainable solution for the historic environment and the community in Perth, without the loss of a perfectly sound historic building and its embodied resources that demolition would incur.

"This is evidently a case where opinions appear divided about whether to retain and reuse this historic building, or whether to clear the site and redevelop as a public square.

"However, we would gladly assist any community group or developer seeking a way forward for the regeneration of the centre of Perth through a meaningful reuse of the city hall.

"As you know, the Prince's Regeneration Trust's aim is to achieve heritage-led regeneration, ensuring not only historic buildings at risk are preserved, regenerated and reused but that our projects give redun-dant buildings a viable and long-term future which can in turn be a catalyst for the wider regeneration of the community."

Perth and Kinross Council said councillors had voted on the matter and referred inquiries to Historic Scotland.

However, a spokesman said the organisation did not comment on individual submissions.

He added: "Historic Scotland has received a formal application from Perth and Kinross Council for our determination regarding the proposed demolition of Perth City Hall.

"We have been accepting representations from the public on the application in addition to those received by Perth and Kinross Council and the deadline for comments closed on December 23.

"We will take account of all of these views and consider them carefully when making our decision."

The new civic square plan is part of the town's bid to secure city status, which it lost in 1975.

The town is bidding to be made a city once again as part of a UK-wide competition to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee this year.

The proposed new square would feature fountains and street furniture and cater for a wide range of events and attractions which would be staged throughout the year, from outdoor markets to an ice rink.