No progress on Gateway museum

The Courier, 4 October 2002

Plans are still in the pipeline for a major new development in the spectacular Gateway building which is still standing unused and empty at the western edge of St Andrews.

This was revealed yesterday, as questions are again being raised about the future of a building which has been the subject of intense local debate over the past few years.

Earlier this year it was revealed that the £9 million centre had been sold to Dundee-based Keiller Estates for a knock-down price after a planned golfing venture went badly wrong and receivers were called in.

At the time of the sale it was stated that the building was to be used by a newly-formed consortium, St Andrews Golf Holdings, which intends to create a 300-capacity conference centre, a call centre, business centre and club.

Also on the cards was a restaurant, sports bar, golf workshop, golf simulators and a 80-seat coffee shop on the ground floor.

It was originally intended that the centre would be up an running by July, but the deadline passed without any noticeable progress on site.

St Andrews Golf Holdings spokesman Anthony Fry said in July that although the plans were still the same, a deal had not yet been signed.

Yesterday Mr Fry said that negotiations were still continuing and the project was still alive. He added, however, that the issue was “very sensitive,” and that no further comment could be made at this time.

French communications company Alcatel was named as the technology partner for St Andrews Golf Holdings.

A fortnight ago Alcatel announced plans to cut 10,000 staff worldwide as its share price had suffered a massive fall.

Yesterday the company also said that the project was going ahead, but made it clear that no further comment could be made at this stage.

The Gateway is built on land owned by St Andrews University, which transferred the 99-year lease to the new owners.

Yesterday a spokesman for the university said that they attached great importance to the development of a world-class museum and reception area that it hoped to provide to students, staff and the general public.

Local councillor Frances Melville yesterday described the situation as “very unsatisfactory.”

She said she was “not really surprised” about what had happened.

“There is a widespread desire to see the Gateway put to good use,” she said.