Golf plans must come before impact study

The Courier, 30 August 2003

The possibility of Fife Council calling for additional information on the economic impact of the proposed new seventh public golf course for St Andrews will only be considered after the submission of a formal planning application.

This was made clear by the council yesterday after growing or a special study as part of the planning process were backed by members of the St Andrews Hotel and Guest House Association.

The association emphasised yesterday that if a study does show that a seventh course is justified, it will gladly welcome the project. It has also said, however, that at the moment there is not enough information available for a view to be taken.

Two other leading figures in the hotel and golf industries in the area have already made a similar plea, citing a drop in visitor numbers, under-use of other courses in the area, emerging golf destinations and competition from elsewhere as reasons for caution.

Comment has also now been made by Nick White, who is managing partner at the Inn at Lathones, and a director of the Myres Castle business at Auchtermuchty.

He said yesterday that planning permission should not be granted unless the council insists on the “basic function” of an economic impact study.

Mr White said that he had moved to Fife seven years ago and had previously worked in some of the world’s major golfing resorts.

He said that, like a number of business men in the area, he was worried at the way the trust is moving - not only with the seventh course - and he has questioned the way statistics about rounds played have been used.

Yesterday Fife Council’s east area development control team leader, Nick Brian, said that when the planning application for the new course is submitted by St Andrews Links Trust the situation will be looked at.

He said that the council would then determine whether there is a need for economic impact issues to be further addressed.

The links trust, he said, would have to demonstrate justification for the new course, and information required would include numbers of rounds played by visitors and locals, and demand.

Proper assessment, he said, would also have to take into account likely effects on the local economy.