MAJOR plans for £500,000 pavement extensions in an iconic Scottish town have been given the green light by councillors, despite being hated by furious locals.
The local council wants to extend the pavements on several parts of one of the town’s busiest streets under new plans.
Council plans to widen the footpaths on five sections of the street[/caption]
Back in 2021, Fife Council created temporary pavement extensions in St Andrews to help with social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic.
The footway was extended at five locations along the town’s South Street, and in January 2023, the local authority held a consultation to ask the public about their opinions of its future.
This week, councillors approved proposals for the £500,000 extensions and stated that the temporary structures set up in the town’s centre will be removed.
These will be replaced with sturdy, uniform designs which will be finished in Caithness stone slabs, according to The Courier.
The plans will see pavements widened outside five businesses along the street, including Janetta’s ice cream shop, Con Panna, The Criterion, St Andrews Brewing Company and The Adamson.
It will see the introduction of year-round seating outside some premises.
And this will create room for more public seating as well as outdoor dining to be used by restaurants. It will also allow more bike racks to be added.
However, it will come at a cost as it will mean that the area will permanently lose around 41 car parking spaces.
Furious locals have slammed the new plans, with Fife Council receiving more than 20 objections for each application.
St Andrews Tory councillor Robin Lawson previously hit out at the proposals, saying that the temporary extensions have actually cost the local council money.
He told The Courier: “Over 60 car parking spaces have been blocked off by temporary extensions since 2020.
“This has cost Fife Council around £75,000 per year in lost revenue. It’s also costing retail and service businesses lost business as customers can’t park easily.”
Mr Lawson’s objections saw him banned from attending a meeting held by the north east planning committee on Wednesday to discuss it further.
The Confederation of St Andrews Residents’ Association has also objected to the South Street plan.
At the meeting, councillors were asked to make a decision based on the design of the new extensions without taking into account what it might be used for.
Restaurants and hospitality businesses have been putting outdoor dining, tables and chairs on the temporary extensions since it was set up in 2021.
The public consultations held by Fife Council in 2023 received mixed opinions from residents.
At the time, 46 per cent of people said they were in favour of it, while 42 per cent wanted the temporary structures removed.
The remaining 12 per cent said they would be happy to see some of the pedestrian spaces kept.
Those who objected complained about the loss of parking spaces on the street and the effect this could have on businesses, as well as how it may impact the conservation area and surrounding listed buildings.
Mr Lawson was among those who highlighted the fact that many hospitality businesses are currently using it without paying fees to the Fife Council.
While others questioned how the local authority could handle its own planning applications.
But councillors have stressed that they sought legal advice when making a decision.
They also explained that they could not take into account loss of parking spaces or businesses affected when they are looking at applications as part of planning legislation.
Councillors also attacked a planning condition to the applications which state that work must begin sometime between now and 2028.
This raised concerns with Lib Dem councillor Jane Ann Liston, who said that this would coincide with The Open which St Andrews is hosting in two years time.
She said: “In 2027 we’re to be blessed with The Open Championship again.
“In theory, we could have them digging up South Street just as Tiger Woods and co are bashing balls down the fairway and that will not do at all.”
In response, Planning officer Alistair Hamilton said that discussions will be held nearer the time to make sure the works won’t clash with any major events held in the town.
Fife Council has been contacted for comment by the Scottish Sun.
Many loclas have complained about the new plans[/caption]
