Opposition to street plans

The Courier, 3 December 2004

Controversial plans which would result in the loss of around 50% of the parking provision in one of the principal streets in St Andrews have run into opposition.

Behind the contentious proposals for South Street is a partnership involving Scottish Enterprise Fife and Fife Council, who want to spend £750,000 on environmental improvements, including widening pavements, felling mature trees and narrowing the width of the thoroughfare.

However, members of St Andrews Community Council have lodged objections to the application currently before Fife Council planners.

In particular they are making it clear they are strongly opposed to any loss of parking spaces. The objections by the community group against the scheme for South Street follow that of St Andrews Merchants’ Association.

The body, which represents over 100 businesses, has slammed the “wholly unnecessary decimation” of parking provision and claims it would lead to increased town centre congestion.

The proposals centre on the area of South Street between Bell Street and Church Street. A previous environmental improvements’ package which focused on the section of the thoroughfare from West Port gateway to the junction with Bell Street - and cost around £500,000 - was completed over a year ago.

Community council vice-chairman Penny Uprichard said yesterday that members specifically objected to the narrowing of South Street and the widening of the footpaths.

She explained, “The community organisation regards changes to the traffic system of the town as premature, prior to the publication of the area transportation plan. We also wish to retain the present number of car parking spaces, with echelon parking.”

The community council also opposes the removal of the avenue of mature lime trees - they are more than 100 years old - except for those which are clearly not thriving.

Miss Uprichard said, “We estimate that number to be about a dozen in the entire length of the street from the cathedral to the West Port.

“The trees should be protected, preferably not with bollards, which do not provide complete protection, but with wire cages.

“The cages would prevent bicycles being propped against the trees and the attention of dogs.”

The community council has also expressed opposition to the provision of the outcrops on both sides of Bell Street.