Scooniehill supporters and opponents to have their say

The Courier, 30 March 2000

No work would take place at the latest major St Andrews site being targeted by golf and leisure developers until 10 million dollars worth of international memberships had been sold.

This was claimed last night as questions were raised about plans from the International Golf Club of St Andrews for land at Scooniehill Farm.

The issues were raised at a special hearing organised by Fife Council’s East Area development committee.

Supporters and opponents of the plans gathered at Madras College as councillors considered a report from planning manager Jim Birrell.

The application is for two new 18-hole golf courses, a practice area, a clubhouse and 80 residential lodges in a development worth around £25 million.

In his report Mr Birrell said the application incorporated several key changes from earlier rejected plans.

He said the scale of buildings on the ridge overlooking St Andrews had been reduced, accommodation had been scaled down and marked for a less prominent position and all golf would be eliminated from the upper hill on West Balrymonth farm.

Mr Birrell said that of 46 letters of representation, 42 were objections. Among the objectors are the Architectural Heritage Society for Scotland, St Andrews Preservation Trust, the St Andrews Green Belt Forum and St Andrews Community Council.

Cameron Community Council is among the plans supporters.

Last night a number of the objectors spoke, and Elizabeth Williams, of the Preservation Trust, said there had been a failure on the part of the developers to show a need for the scheme.

Opposition was also expressed by Professor Terence Lee of the green belt forum who said the permanent sterilisation of the countryside remained one of the most intrusive features of the scheme.

He said that it was hard to see the justification for bartering the St Andrews “family silver” for an exclusive club for the rich.

The vice-chairman of St Andrews Community Council, Dr Ian Goudie, said the plans “seriously understate” the project’s impact.

Dr Goudie added, “The population implied by 80 houses plus the visitors and staff of the leisure facilities is greater than that of Dairsie.”

Dr Goudie said councillors had a difficult task attempting to re-establish some order in the medium-term planning of St Andrews after the coherence of the vision given in the St Andrews Strategic Study was lost when the Kingask development was “imposed” on East Fife.

He added, “One conclusion of the study was that no major expansion of the town should take place, but, given the low level of local unemployment, the jobs that would be created by this development at Scooniehill would inevitably create more demand for housing in the town.”

In turn, he said, it would exacerbate overcrowding at Madras College and the difficulties experienced at the town’s inadequate health centre.

On behalf of the developers was planning consultant Ian Fraser, of Hardy Fraser Munro. The proposal had been reviewed, he said, and all concerns raised had been addressed.

The developers, said Mr Fraser, were willing to accept whatever conditions were deemed necessary and he emphasised a number of steps were to be taken to encourage public access.

Existing rights of way were being retained, one right of way that was currently impassable was to be reinstated, a six-acre area was to be offered as a public park, and a path would surround the site.

Mr Fraser also stated that there was no intention of creating a housing development, “now or ever”, and that the accommodation planned would be located in small groups of lodges with one or two bedroom suites.

Questions were also raised about the status of the developers themselves.

A consultant for the International Golf Club of St Andrews Limited, Mr Ewan McKay, said no funds would be drawn down to start the development until 300 international memberships worth $35,000 each had been sold.

Agents in the USA, he said, expected to be able to sell the memberships within three years.

The next stage of the planning process will involve the preparation of a further detailed report from Mr Birrell and this will be presented to the development committee along with a recommendation for either approval or refusal.

It is expected that a decision could be reached early in May.