One-stop welcome vision for town

Gordon Berry, The Courier, 3 March 2004

The ground floor of the Gateway building at the western entrance to St Andrews might soon find a new use as a “first port of call” for the university and the town.

Kingdom of Fife Tourist Board, working with new owners the university, has plans for development which could form the first “flagship project” of the infant St Andrews World Class initiative.

The issue was raised at this week’s meeting of the tourist board and afterwards chief executive Patrick Laughlin said discussions were taking place about the possibility of the board taking a key role within the building.

It has already been emphasised that any new project will not affect the workings of the tourist information centre in the middle of the town.

Mr Laughlin said the university, which Intends to create an educational centre in the upper floors of the building, is talking to the tourist board and other partners.

No agreements had been reached but it was hoped there would be a one-stop welcome to both university and town.

Although it is clear that previous plans for a fully fledged university museum in the building will not now go ahead, Mr Laughlin said some priceless university artefacts rarely seen by members of the public could go on display.

The chief executive said that, if the project goes ahead, interpretation and information technologies would be used to depict the story of St Andrews.

The proposals could also see an eating area created that would be open to the public and academic staff.

Mr Laughlin said the board had been enthusiastic about the project full plans and costings would be brought to its next meeting.

“This is potentially the single biggest project the Kingdom of Fife Tourist Board has taken on for several years.

“As part of the St Andrews World Class initiative we hope that we can help raise the profile of St Andrews and the whole of Fife”

The Gateway building was recently bought by the university - on whose land it stands - after it had lain empty for around four years following the collapse of a planned golf-related and leisure venture.

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.