No plans to seal off St Andrews to traffic

The Courier, 22 July 2000

Fife Police stressed there were no plans to completely seal off St Andrews from traffic this weekend.

A police spokesman said that a careful watch would be kept on figures and a common-sense approach would be taken.

Around 47,000 people were at the Old Course yesterday and, with the fine weather expected to continue, even more people are likely to flock to St Andrews today.

Speaking about the traffic measures, the spokesman said, "No decision is made outwith consultation with the R and A and other interested parties."

He added that the road system was finite and it was realised there could come a point where, "We cannot put more people where there is no room."

"We are heartened by the number of people using the park and ride and Golflinks facility which does help," the spokesman added.

Police are again appealing for the public to use their common sense and arrive early.

"To say there would be no delays would be naive. We ask everyone to allow plenty of time for journeys and obey instructions," the spokesman said.

Last night, police said traffic heading to and from St Andrews for the second day of the Open had moved slowly but steadily.

The police also repeated their appeal for drivers to be patient when in tailbacks.

A spokesman confirmed that lengthy but still moving queues had built up in the morning between Cupar and Melville Lodges roundabout, between Dairsie and St Andrews and on the northern approach via Leuchars and Guardbridge.

He said that anyone who came to the area and did not expect to be delayed could not have been reading newspapers or watching the television.

It had been made as clear as possible, he said that hold-ups were almost inevitable but there had been no major problems.

One area where there did appear to be some difficulty, involved motorists trying to leave St Andrews by the main road through Guardbridge.

One angry driver said she had sat, for no apparent reason, on the road bridge at Guardbridge after being involved in some routine business in St Andrews.

"A long queue of traffic built up and for some reason police would not let the traffic coming out of St Andrews get moving. It was only when two motor cyclists came up the outside of the queue with blue lights flashing that the police at the roundabout were spoken to and we were allowed to move," she said.

"It seemed that golf fans were being favoured at the expense of people like me who had no choice but to be in St Andrews," she added.

Police said there were occasions when flow problems would lead to incoming traffic being given priority at certain times.

Meanwhile severe traffic congestion which was expected to centre around the Tay Road Bridge during the Open has failed to materialise.

Police also said yesterday that the extra traffic volume had moved smoothly through Dundee and said there had been no reported problems.

On a brighter note, sales of hats, sun cream and hay fever remedies have rocketed in St Andrews as the thousands of golf fans swelter in temperatures rocketing to more than 70F.

At Auchterlonies golf shop in the town a spokesman said yesterday that extra supplies of golf hats had been delivered to meet the demand.

He added, "All types of hats are being snapped up. We had a special delivery on Thursday of the most popular brands and they were quickly snapped up."

Boots the chemist in the town centre has also been flooded with fans keen to take precautions against the rays of the sun.