Boundary dispute delays work

The Citizen, 26 January 2001

The development company behind the multi-million pound St Andrews Bay Golf Resort and Spa, which is currently nearing completion, has found itself in the middle of a boundary dispute regarding the protected Site of Special Scientific Interest within its grounds.

Contractors began clearing the area next to the wildlife spot, Kittock’s Den, back in August until they were informed the area formed part of the 50-acre SSSI.

The work, which was to have created an eighth green for the development’s second course - the Devlin - has stopped and an enforcement order to prevent a further breach of the SSSI was served on the developers, St Andrews Bay Ltd, by Fife Council last week.

However, the company are unconvinced that the area actually lies within the SSSI and are in negotiations with council planners and Scottish National Heritage, to get permission to go ahead with their development of the area.

The company’s Operations Director, Iain MacKinnon, said: ‘‘We had good reason to believe this area was not contained within the SSSI and still feel there is a large body of evidence to back this up.

‘‘When we were told the area was protected back in August, we immediately ceased work and withdrew. We were not ordered to stop, it was a voluntary decision.

‘‘We are currently considering our position and are in negotiations with planning authorities and SNH. We desire to utilise this piece of ground and hope we will be able to do so.

‘‘The contested boundary is inside the stone wall and fencing which is generally accepted as being the border of the SSSI, and the vegetation within the site is also completely different to that in the SSSI.

‘‘It is also contained within the area for which we have planning consent.

‘‘If it is demonstrated that this is part of the SSI, we will respect that decision. However, if this cannot be proved conclusively, it would be a desirable and fitting area for a green.’’

The work already carried out has taken the top layer of grass and wildflowers off the area, which is approximately one-sixth of an acre, leaving just the sub-soil. The enforcement notice served by Fife Council requires the area to be completely reinstated to its original form.

The council’s Planning Team Leader for the East Area, Nick Brian, said that the order would require work to be carried out over the next six months.

‘‘The notice requires that all the damage to the area be reversed, a process beginning with the reinstatement of the boundary fence which was removed by the contractors.

‘‘The ground will then have to be reformed and replanted, which will involve making the surface receptive to seeds and then wholesale replanting.’’

He said he had already been out to see the site and that the planning service would be carrying out checks over the next few months to ensure the specified work was carried out.