Developer ordered to restore site

Frank O'Donnell, Edinburgh Edition only!, The Scotsman, 25 January 2001

Enforcement action has been taken against a controversial development at the home of golf after designers tried to build a green on a protected scientific area.

The developers of the £50 million Kingask project in St Andrews - designed in part by Ryder Cup captain Sam Torrance - have illegally pulled up a section of rare grassland on a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

The area affected, about three-quarters of an acre, was earmarked for the eight green of Kingask's second course, due to open in mid 2002.

Residents, who have consistently objected to the scheme, yesterday described the action as "outrageous" particularly as the area was marked with a post and wire fence. "They are not interested in the environment, they are only interested in making as much money as they can from the name of St Andrews," said Frank Riddell, the vice-chairman of St Andrews Community Council.

The action has angered Scottish National Heritage and planners at Fife Council, who have ordered developers to return the land to its previous state. That, however, could take up two years and cost thousands of pounds.

SNH is now considering sending a report to the procurator-fiscal under the Wildlife and Countryside Act.

The company behind Kingask, St Andrews Bay Development; said it did not believe the area was part of a SSSI and ceased work as soon as the issue arose.

Nick Brian, the team leader for development control at Fife Council, said: "We have served an enforcement notice on them to reinstate and re-vegetate the area. Given the nature of the area that's not easily done.

"The fact we have served an enforcement notice shows we are not happy with the situation."

SSSIs are the main nature conservation designation in Britain. These sites are special for their plants or animals or habitats, their rocks or landforms or a combination of these. There are currently 1,448 SSSIs in Scotland, covering 11.7 per cent of the land.