| St Andrews World Class Initiative - Planning
Issue St Andrews World Class - South Street Improvement Scheme more Planning Issues back to Local Issues Latest Proposal : South Street Improvement Scheme - 04/03580/EFULL St Andrews World Class :
The drive to turn St Andrews into a 'world class' visitor destination has led to proposals to establish a new company which would take forward plans to raise the town's tourism profile. Members of Fife Council's environment and development committee recently voted in favour of turning 'St Andrews World Class' from an informal 'vision group' into a company limited by guarantee. Ian Goudie, who sits on the community council's planning committee, said: ''We do need to think carefully about how we are going to contest this group. They see St Andrews as a resource to be exploited rather than a place where people have to live. The question is whether we will be properly informed about their activities at all and whether we will be properly consulted. One has to be very cynical about this - I see no reason to believe the validity of their economic forecast and we do need to think about what the knock-on implications are going to be." Ted Brocklebank has added his voice to those questioning plans to promote St Andrews as World Class. The MSP is concerned about the ultimate agenda of the project and who is setting it. South Street Improvement Scheme - 04/03580/EFULL more Planning Issues back to Local Issues up to Top South Street News :
South Street Improvement Scheme - Background Information Fife Council is considering a proposal to reduce parking in South Street in St Andrews. This may have implications for Kingsbarns residents who drive to St Andrews in order to shop in the town centre. The Merchants' Association has raised concerns regarding the proposal to replace current parking arrangements between Bell Street and Church Street with parallel parking. They say that the loss of some "two out of three'' spaces will only add to congestion as drivers "struggle to find a parking space.'' When this scheme was first announced, a member of the Merchants' Association said that : "Our greatest fear is that if you make the parking too difficult to use people won't be able to find parking spaces, so they will not bother visiting the town centre. The lack of parking will restrict the number of people who can just nip into town to pick up some messages." In response, Fife Council area transport manager Derek Crowe indicated that parallel parking is being introduced to St Andrews as part of a major policy objective. He explained that : "Vehicles currently clutter the South Street area. We want to reduce car trips into the town centre and are trying to use the streets better than they are currently being used." Concerns have been raised over plans to replace existing trees lining the pavements in South Street. A representative of the St Andrews World Class Project said recently that: "The current proposals to change the look of South Street have been the subject of some controversy. With hindsight, these proposals should not have been badged as being part of the St Andrews World Class Project. ..." You may have your own concerns about this scheme, and the people behind it - you may be asking : What is the St Andrews World Class Project, and how did it evolve? more Planning Issues back to Local Issues up to Top St Andrews World Class was originally launched as a research based initiative in 2002. Under the agreement, Scottish Enterprise Fife would provide expertise and significant investment in expanding the activity of St Andrews University’s research and enterprise services department and focus its activities on creating and assisting high value businesses from the university’s research. According to press releases at the time : The transformation of university research into successful commercial enterprises would be backed up by additional work between both organisations that will see St Andrews further develop as a significant location within the Scottish economy. Through St Andrews World Class, Scottish Enterprise Fife would help the university enhance its competitive advantage as a world class teaching and research institution. Both organisations would also pool their resources to help St Andrews realise its potential as a visitor attraction and a viable commercial base for companies. According to various sources in the public domain : First Minister, Scottish Executive press release, 20 August 2002 St Andrews World Class, an agreement between the University of St Andrews and Scottish Enterprise Fife, is expected to generate up to 30 new businesses over the next 10 years, ensuring that Scotland’s economy benefits from indigenous knowledge and research as well as inward investment. ..... St Andrews set to cash in on business drive - The Scotsman, 21 August 2002 The University of St Andrews announced its intention to spin out 30 companies over the next decade after securing a "significant, six-figure" partnership deal with Scottish Enterprise Fife yesterday. Scottish Enterprise (Fife) - Annual Report 2002/2003 Chief Executive’s Statement (Extract) - "St Andrews is a prime example of how Scottish Enterprise can intervene to progress a co-ordinated approach which capitalises on the town’s unique reputation as the globally recognised home of golf and the home of a world class university. Our St Andrews World Class strategy demonstrates that, through programmes such as the commercialisation of research at the University and introducing wireless broadband infrastructure to the town, we can satisfy the objectives of the National strategic document – A Smart, Successful Scotland." .... Scottish Enterprise (Fife) - Board meeting minutes, 9 December 2002 The Tourism Vision Group, 'a group of private sector tourism industry professionals with a desire to see St Andrews fulfilling its true potential,' explained their remit to the Board and the proposals and support required from private and public sector in order to achieve the objectives of the group. It should be noted here that most of the members of the Tourism Vision Group now sit on the : St Andrews World Class Project Executive St Andrews Community Council, Minutes of meeting, May 2003 St Andrews Tourism Vision Group - A presentation was made by Alan McGregor, General Manager of St Andres Links Trust, Ann Murray-Smith, owner of Rufflets Country House Hotel, and David Corner, Secretary of the University. Scottish Enterprise press release, 15 July 2003 "The vision of establishing St Andrews as a world class destination will be developed by focusing specifically on golf and golf tourism; other types of tourism in the area, and technology-based development in association with St Andrews University." University of St Andrews Press Release, 22 August 2003 The University has further strengthened its links with Scottish Enterprise (SE) Fife with the appointment of Principal and Vice-Chancellor Dr Brian Lang to their board. One-stop welcome vision for town, Gordon Berry, The Courier, 3 March 2004 The St Andrews World Class Initiative is a partnership involving public sector bodies, the university and representatives of private business. A group of private sector professionals has been working on a “tourism vision” for the town as part of the process. Catchline Communications Group - St Andrews World Class - News release, 24 May 2004 Speaking at the launch of the "St Andrews World Class" vision, Mike Robinson, Fife Council's Head of Local Services (East) and joint chairman of the St Andrews World Class project executive said: Scottish Executive - Second progress report on Tourism Framework for Action, June 2004 On infrastructure development, St Andrews World Class is an industry-led initiative designed to realise the town's brand potential. Scottish Enterprise has supported it by working with the private sector to develop its vision for the town, resulting in the development of an integrated action plan. Scottish Enterprise will contribute to the delivery of the plan by focusing on key activity areas of innovation, business development, skills and infrastructure improvements. Fife Council - Environment & Development Committee, 6 September 2004 Realising the potential of St Andrews is vital to the Fife economy and in terms of promoting Scottish tourism, St Andrews is crucial. St Andrews World Class is a partnership established by businesses in the town, working with the public sector to ensure that St Andrews fulfils its potential to become a ‘world class’ destination. Move to establish tourism company - The Citizen, 10 September 2004 The drive to turn St Andrews into a 'world class' visitor destination has led to proposals to establish a new company which would take forward plans to raise the town's tourism profile. Members of Fife Council's environment and development committee this week voted in favour of turning 'St Andrews World Class' from an informal 'vision group' into a company limited by guarantee. Second thoughts on street revamp - The Courier, 6 November 2004 [A representative of the St Andrews World Class Project] said the 'world class' terminology was purely for 'internal' use - for those involved with the project in and around St Andrews and Fife - and visitors to the town would not be aware of it. St Andrews World Class - then and now more Planning Issues back to Local Issues up to Top 'St Andrews World Class' has clearly evolved. It is interesting to compare the current industry-led 'vision' with the original research based 'initiative.' In 2002 we were told that : St Andrews World Class, an agreement between the University of St Andrews and Scottish Enterprise Fife, is expected to generate up to 30 new businesses over the next 10 years, ensuring that Scotland’s economy benefits from indigenous knowledge and research as well as inward investment. Under the agreement, Scottish Enterprise Fife would provide expertise and significant investment in expanding the activity of St Andrews University’s research and enterprise services department and focus its activities on creating and assisting high value businesses from the university’s research. The transformation of university research into successful commercial enterprises would be backed up by additional work between both organisations that will see St Andrews further develop as a significant location within the Scottish economy. Now we learn that : St Andrews World Class is an industry-led initiative designed to realise the town's brand potential. Initial key projects include environmental improvements in the town centre and along West Sands, creating a public orientation centre at the St Andrews University Gateway Building, the joint promotion of golf facilities, developing the skills in local businesses and providing more opportunities for use of new technology. One of the early successes of the project had been the "bringing together" of the four operators of the various golf interests in and around the town - St Andrews Links Trust, the St Andrews Old Course Hotel Golf Resort and Spa, the St Andrews Bay Golf Resort and Spa and the Kingsbarns links - who are collaborating for the first time in joint marketing It is also interesting to study the make-up of the recently formed St Andrews World Class Project Executive. Why is there little, or no, representation from the research community? St Andrews World Class Project Executive - formed by May 2004 more Planning Issues back to Local Issues up to Top The St Andrews World Class Project Executive appears to be the group who run the golf booking website standrewsworldclass.com - the 'external' face of St Andrews World Class. According to the website : St Andrews World Class Project Executive provides a variety of on-line offerings, including information about the St Andrews World Class Project Executive products and services, business information and publicity. Address: The St Andrews World Class Project Executive, 40 High Street, Kirkcaldy, KY1 1LU Membership :
* member of the original St
Andrews Tourism Vision Group Some members have commented on St Andrews World Class in the press - click on names for quotes. St Andrews World Class News - for recent articles and press releases South Street Improvement Scheme - 04/03580/EFULL Concerns regarding this proposal should be lodged with Fife Council by 18 November Remember, if you have any thoughts on this issue, or any local issue, please send feedback Feedback received will be used to regulate the coverage of this issue. more Planning Issues back to Local Issues up to Top |