Golf course plan approved once more

The Courier, 24 April 1997

Plans for two golf courses, a leisure centre and a hotel at a site near St Andrews have once again been approved by councillors.

As members of Fife Council's east area development committee granted renewal for a scheme put forward by farmer Andrew Logan, however, they warned that a right of way along the coast at the site must be protected.

It was pointed out at the committee that Mr Logan has been involved in a public row over access to land he owns elsewhere in the East Neuk.

The application was for Kingask Estate at St Andrews and involved renewal of outline planning permission which was granted three years ago.

Area planning manager Jim Birrell said that the proposed golf courses would take up the bulk of the proposed site while the hotel and leisure centre complex would be developed through conversion and extension of an existing group of steading buildings.

Mr Birrell also pointed out that the site lies in an area of great landscape value and was situated adjacent to a site of special scientific interest.

One of the bodies consulted by the council over the plans, Scottish Natural Heritage, had said that a number of conditions should be imposed on any consent.

They made particular reference to retention of a strip of land along the top of the cliff to allow for development of a coastal path.

A similar point was made by St Andrews Community Council who said that the existing right of way along the coastal path should not be directly affected, and also that any known archaeological remains should be located and safeguarded.

Mr Birrell said the application for renewal was in accordance with national and local planning policies relating to rural recreational and tourism uses.

The issue of the right of way was raised again at the meeting by Newburgh councillor Bob Nairn. He said Mr Logan had been involved in a dispute elsewhere over access and it should be written into any planning conditions that the right of way had to be protected.

This was agreed by the committee, who unaninmously approved renewal of consent.