Golf developer must face wary councillors

James Rougvie, The Scotsman, 2 February 1999

The future of a controversial £50 million golfing complex planned for St Andrew will be decided by local councillors who have already accused the developer of trying to circumvent planning procedures.

At the request on the developer, the St Andrews Bay company, Fife Council yesterday opted not to intervene, referring the matter back to the local committee.

However, Peter Douglas, who chairs the east planning committee, said councillors feared they would still be overruled by the authority. He said he was concerned that the lure of £14 million for the local economy and the 300 jobs which would be created to build two golf courses and one of the biggest hotels in Scotland at the Kingask site would outweigh other considerations.

Last month, the committee told the developer to rethink the scale of the hotel, while the impact of the development on traffic in St Andrews was assessed. The developer then wrote to Fife Council asking it to vote on the plan.

Several conservation bodies and local community groups have objected to the proposal, fearing that it could open the door to more golf courses and related developments.

Fife Council’s strategic development committee said yesterday it was assured the developer planned to bus guests to the site to ease traffic problems.