“I feel there are things that are happening that will allow the town to change and go forward, creating a smart, successful Blairgowrie,” said Mr Sim.

Once serving a role as a market town for the agricultural community, the focus of the community has changed in recent years.

This Mr Sim believes is a challenge and an opportunity for the future, rather than a worrying development.

Leading the renaissance is the redevelopment of a long-vacant riverside site in Upper Mill Street which will bring scores of people into the town, living within walking distance of the shopping heart of Blairgowrie.

Last month permission was also granted for the historic Keathbank Mill to be converted into flats.

Lying on the banks of the River Ericht, development of the A-listed Victorian mill will further bolster the population.

“Blairgowrie has a wonderful mix of people – people who were born and brought up here, people who have worked around the world and come back, and a youthful, retired population,” said Mr Sim.

“People have moved back or into the area because of the quality of life and accessibility of Blairgowrie.”

It is the unique features of the town Mr Sim says must be capitalised on if it is to thrive in the coming years.

Traditional businesses offering personal attention and specialist, quality outlets is the way forward, he believes.

“We cannot compete with the multiples so we have a great opportunity to offer speciality shopping,” he said.

“Personal attention is one of the charms of rural shopping.”

Tesco are relocating in Blairgowrie and the hope is it will mean people will remain in the town to do their supermarket shopping, benefiting other local businesses.

The major local concern is the quest to find a suitable replacement tenant for the Tesco site in High Street.

Mr Sim himself is currently redeveloping his own business on the riverside, virtually rebuilding the premises to accommodate his antique centre and a cafe.

The intention is that the cafe will offer “classic and innovative dishes for the discerning”, which will complement the existing Cargill’s Bistro and provide more choice for the visitor.

Mr Sim is keen for everyone to get behind his vision and says there are opportunities – like the £25,000 of council money made available through the Perthshire Chamber of Commerce for shop-front enhancements – to get things moving. Opportunities exist in the leisure sector for growth in the traditional pursuits of golf, walking, shooting and fishing.

“The opportunity is now there for change. We have to grasp things and move with the times,” said Mr Sim.