Golf project not to start until £7m raised

Gordon Berry, The Courier, 22 November 2000

Work on a proposed £25 million golf and leisure project near St Andrews will not start until £7 million has been raised from advance membership sales which would be predominantly in the US.

This was claimed yesterday by the chairman of the International Golf Club of St Andrews Ltd, Mr Frederick Dalgarno, as a public inquiry got under way in the town.

The inquiry will decide an appeal against Fife Council’s refusal of permission for plans which include two 18-hole golf courses, residential accommodation, and a clubhouse with leisure facilities, on a 460-acre site at Scooniehill to the south of St Andrews. The decision was made by Fife council’s east area development committee against officials’ recommendations.

Mr Dalgarno was the first witness in proceedings expected to last up to six days and said St Andrews was regarded as the “mecca" for golfers, with the idea for the proposals stemming from studies in the USA.

The initial fee for international membership was projected at £18,000 a year, and international members would be charged an additional £1000 annual fee and would have to pay separately for accommodation when they visited.

A “national membership” would be available to UK residents, with priority to be given to local people.

Mr Dalgarno said no work would commence at Scooniehill until a minimum of £7 million was raised, or 300 international memberships were sold. He added that the application had cost well over £250,000 so far and was a “clear demonstration of his company’s confidence."

In terms of economic benefit, Mr Dalgarno said it was envisaged the development would provide up to 107 full-time equivalent jobs, and there would be further employment during the construction phase. Off-site visitor spend of £2 million was projected in 2004, rising to £5.12 million from 9000 visitors in 2013. Mr Dalgarno also highlighted the projects value in the context of a Scottish tourist industry in which golf is seen as a key element.

Under cross-examination from St Andrews community council vice-chairman Dr Frank Riddell, Mr Dalgarno reacted sharply to a suggestion the scheme was being sold to “unsuspecting Americans" who identified St Andrews with links golf. He said the project was clearly explained in America.

In answer to a question about existing low unemployment in the area, Mr Dalgarno said work would be offered to local people, although he also accepted employees might have to come from outwith.

Another of the applicant’s witnesses, Alan Duff, a divisional director of the Baptie Group, gave evidence on traffic-related reasons given for refusal of the application.

It was said there would be an unacceptable level of traffic and a harmful impact for St Andrews, and an unacceptable level of construction traffic.

But these reasons, Mr Duff said, were contrary to views of planning officials, and both a traffic impact assessment and a ”green transport plan” demonstrated traffic would not impact to a significant degree.

The green transport plan includes initiatives to reduce the dependency on cars by members, guests and employees alike.

Mr Duff also said the constitution of the club would not allow play for people other than members and their guests, with no corporate days and similar activities which would generate extra traffic.

In relation to construction vehicles, it was anticipated that on average 10-15 heavy goods vehicles per day would travel to and from the site and Mr Duff added that estimates would be accurate.

Under cross-examination from community council representative Dr Ian Goudie, Mr Duff agreed there was nothing else in the UK to compare the proposal with.

Asked whether figures supplied were the result of “speculation,” he said research had been carried out in the USA. The inquiry continues.