Crumbling coastal path prompts calls for action

The Citizen, 29 September 2000

Fife Council is being urged to take action over the coastal erosion which it’s claimed puts local ramblers in danger.

The notorious sinking footpath near the Kinkell Braes caravan site is due to be highlighted at Monday’s meeting of St Andrews Community Council following concerns that the erosion has got so bad that part of the site can no longer be used.

This week Community Councillor Archie Strachan, himself a keen walker, endorsed the views of local resident Archie Sharpe, who complained that the state of the path had quite literally gone downhill.

Mr Strachan claimed that there had already been two accidents in the last year and feared that ramblers would be put at further risk if something was not done soon.

“This is not the first time the problem has been raised,” he told the Citizen. “Fife Council says it doesn’t have the resources to carry out proper repairs but we have heard that story before.

“Now the path has become quite dangerous in places and a permanent solution needs to be found.”

The section of the path causing most concern is a 10-metre stretch which has sunk below the level of the surrounding land, forcing walkers to climb up and down make-shift steps.

Overgrown conditions farther along the path coupled with mud created by the construction work currently being carried out by East of Scotland Water at Kinkell Ness further exacerbates the problems.

Fife Council’s east area community services operational team leader Jim Hooton confirmed that the walkway between St Andrews and Crail was not recognised currently as part of the official Fife Coastal Path, despite its regular use by walkers for many years.

He said it was not a case of the council not having the money to carry out the work needed to bring the path up to the necessary standard as that could be done by’ training for work’ groups who had already been working on the coastal path in the East Neuk.

Warning signs had been erected indicating that part of the route could be unsafe but he went on: ”Discussions are ongoing between the leaseholder of the caravan site at Kinkell Braes to negotiate a route for the path through the land.

“This would involve taking the path inland by some 50 metres to safely avoid the landslip area. That could impinge on a number of pitches at the caravan site.

“However we are hopeful that an agreement can be reached in the near future to allow this work to start and to provide a safe facility for path users.”