Golf development Inquiry date set

The Courier, 31 October 2000

The Scottish Executive has announced details of a public inquiry focusing on a £25 million golf and leisure development on an extensive site south of St Andrews.

The inquiry, which could last up to a week, will be held in St Andrews Burgh Chambers and is due to start on November 21.

The public hearing has been ordered following an appeal by the International Golf Club of St Andrews against the decision of Fife Council to reject their plans for the near 500-acre site at Scooniehill.

The application for planning consent for two new 18-hole golf courses, residential suites, leisure facilities, a clubhouse development and car parking was turned down by members of the local authority’s east area development committee by nine votes to four.

The rejection of what would essentially be a private club aimed at the overseas market came despite a recommend- ation for approval of the multi-million project by planning officials. It also had support from local member Peter Douglas, and Cameron Community Council, the area which would have been most affected.

However, there was widespread opposition to the venture by a host of local and national organisations, including St Andrews Community Council, the conservation pressure group St Andrews Preservation Trust, Scottish Natural Heritage, the Association for the Protection of Rural Scotland and the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland.

St Andrews Community Council is to be represented at the inquiry next month to argue its case against the controversial plans. The local body maintains that the plans are contrary to the St Andrews Strategic Study, whose conclusions were accepted as policy by Fife Council, and to several policies in the local and structure plans.

Members claim it will have traffic implications for St Andrews and maintain that the traffic impact assessment presented by the developers is inadequate. They also consider that the development may well be contrary to the most recent revision of Fife Council’s Draft Structure Plan.

Among those who will give evidence on behalf of the community council will be local councillor Sheila Hill, who will address the inquiry on the the effect of the development on educational facilities, and Dr John Bell, chairman of the local healthcare co-operative, who will highlight healthcare provision in the town.

Community council vice-chairman Dr Ian Goudie, who is a professional statistician, will also give expert evidence.

In recommending approval of the development to councillors earlier this year, planning officials considered that the proposals conformed to development plan policies.

Officials also maintained there would be a positive contribution to the local economy and that the impact could be delivered in a sensitive way.

However, councillors took the view that the golf complex would be premature in advance of decisions about a new Structure Plan. Concern was also voiced with regard to construction vehicles, traffic impact on the town centre and difficulties in implementing proposals put forward in a "green travel plan."

The Scottish Executive has appointed Ian Lumsden to lead the public inquiry.