Congestion fears over South Street upgrade

The Citizen, 25 June 2004

Work to complete a £1.35m upgrade in South Street, St Andrews, will increase traffic congestion, according to the town's Merchants' Association.

The organisation, which represents the majority of the town's traders, says consultation on the changes - revealed in the Citizen on May 14 - was poorly advertised and has been "rushed through.''

Members say the public perception is that the whole scheme - a partnership project between Fife Council, Scottish Enterprise Fife and others in the St Andrews World Class Initiative - has already been decided.

However, Derek Crowe, east area transportation manager for Fife Council, told the Citizen this week that reaction from those who had attended the public exhibition,and those who had heard a presentation to the community council, was "positive''.

The Merchants' Association is concerned the proposal, to replace current parking arrangements in the section between Bell Street and Church Street with parallel parking resulting in a loss of some "two out of three'' spaces, will only add to town centre congestion as drivers "struggle to find a parking space.''

Members claimed it was irresponsible to take such a step ''without plans, or even proposals, for alternative parking provision, such as a multi-storey or underground car park adjacent to the centre of town''.

Mr Crowe says road safety will be improved by introducing the parking changes, as vehicles leaving spaces currently have to reverse straight into the road and often have their view blocked by "large, sports utility vehicles".

Bob Inch, Merchants' Association honorary secretary, said the issue could be resolved by a ''relatively minor adjustment'' of the angle of the parking bays without any major loss of spaces.

Concerns have also been raised in St Andrews over plans to replace existing trees lining the pavements in South Street.

However, Mr Crowe said they had become misshapen owing to the way they had spread and branches being broken. Safety was also an issue as the roots were lifting paving slabs.

Expert advice was that work to stop root damage to paving would jeopardise the health of the trees and they should be replaced with substantial new ones, in "better contained" tree pits.

"Within a short time this will provide an improved tree-lined avenue feel to the street,'' he stressed.

St Andrews was showing "healthy signs of success as a shopping centre," Mr Crowe added, with the numbers of vacant units at a very low level and a buoyant demand reflected in strong rental growth.

Surveys being undertaken this year would record pedestrian flows on the Bell Street to Church Street section of South Street.