Trust links bar councillors from course decision

Gordon Berry, The Courier, 11 February 2004

Three Fife councillors have taken steps to explain why they cannot become involved in decision making or debate about St Andrews Links Trust’s proposed new seventh public golf course.

As debate continues over the proposals for land at Kinkell and Brownhills to the south-east of the town, only a small number of elected members were in attendance at a special planning hearing held last week in Boarhills village hall.

Yesterday Councillor Peter Douglas, whose ward includes the proposed golf course, made clear that he, along with councillor Frances Melville, who is chairperson of the east area development committee, and St Andrews member Bill Sangster, had not been allowed to participate in or even attend the hearing.

“Under the protocol governing planning matters we are all and each debarred from the departure hearing, and planning decisions regarding the Links Trust application.

“This is because we all have involvement with the Links Trust. Councillor Melville is a trustee and I am a member of the Links Trust management committee along with Councillor Sangster.

“This is not a statement of lack of interest, far from it, but there is need for the public to be aware of the constraints involved in this planning situation and the position the councillors find themselves in.”

Speaking entirely on his own behalf, Mr Douglas said that he was in a markedly different position from the other two councillors in that he represents the community of Boarhills and Dunino.

The community council there, he said, is strongly in favour of the application, and he added that he “unreservedly supports” the community council and therefore the application.

“I note that elements of St Andrews Community Council, or perhaps more specifically, their planning committee, are opposed to the application, which they are fully entitled to do.

“This application lies in the community council area of Boarhills and Dunino and they are unanimously in support of the application,” he said.

Issues raised during discussion at the hearing will help inform the eventual recommendation that will be made to Fife Council’s east area development committee.

At the hearing a senior planning official indicates that further information might be sought from the applicants over issues such as demand, exiting course capacity and economic impact.

Questions have been raised about these issues in a number objections and representations, and during submissions at the meeting Itself, and there have been calls from several quarters for provision of an independent economic impact assessment.

As yet there is no time-scale for the formal decision-making process.