Fife councillor attacks golf decisions policy

Peter Wright, The Courier, 23 April 1999

Local councillor Frances Melville yesterday sought clarity on the issues facing the proposed golf-related developments in the St Andrews area, telling yesterday’s meeting of Fife Council, “I feel very strongly that this is a sad day for decentralisation.”

She was referring to a recent decision by the strategic development committee that the applications for the developments be referred to them for decision; and that arrangements for development plan hearings to be made as necessary.

Also, if need be, arrangements be made for a special meeting of the committee to consider and determine the applications; and the East Area development committee be advised of the procedures to be adopted and invited to give a view on each of the three proposals.

Councillor Melville added, “I want this chamber to know, and be in no doubt, that the local people in and around St Andrews are very angry that the three applications will not be taken by local members at local level.

“What we need is a strategy and a policy and decisions taken at local level. The local people feel the decision taken on this item is very regrettable,” she concluded.

Councillor John MacDougall said he was never aware the decisions would be taken at local level.

He said, “The planning issue has to be a local decision and that is the case. “Other applications have come in which complicate the matter quite considerably, so the council has to ensure that the appropriate officials deal with it regarding council policy.

“A debate will take place when all the information is available and this council will make a decision."

Councillor Christine May, leader of the administration, suggested Councillor Melville was looking for reassurance that nothing would be hurried or unduly delayed.

“We will be happy to give her that reassurance and the due process will be gone into and nothing will be rushed or delayed and will be given to the people of St Andrews and the rest of Fife so that the relative matters will be taken into consideration, but I think the other questions are technical.”

Councillor Alex Thomson, depute leader of the administration, added, “This has Fife-wide implications. The North-East Fife area must stop living in and isolation from the rest of Fife."