The Royal Burgh of St Andrews Community Council
Minutes of 3rd April 2000
As approved
Chair: Murdo Macdonald
Present:
Community Councillors: Ken Fraser, Ian Goudie, John Landon, Helen Lawrie, Pete Lindsay, Dennis Macdonald, Murdo Macdonald, Lindsay Murray, Joe Peterson, Archie Strachan, Cynthia Tero.
Student:
Co-opted: Bill Sangster, Archie Muir
Fife Councillors: Sheila Hill, Jane Ann Liston, Frances Melville, Jane Hunter-Blair
Apologies: Mareis Cassells, Ken Crichton, Hugh Gray, Chris Lesurf, Donald Macgregor, Steve Durrant, Linda Piálek, James Arnold.
2. Contributions from members of the public
2.2. Mr Christie
Recently had a meeting with the muniments section of the university. Hopes to have town charters etc photographed and framed for display. Councillor Jane Hunter-Blair suggested that the Common Good Fund would probably support this, which will cost about £300. On a related note the Burgess roll currently resides in Cupar County Buildings but he hopes soon to have a copy on public display in St Andrews. He announced that he would be passing on to the Community Council a copy of the declaration of independence for display along with the charters.
On a note of personal history and directly relevant to the community council Mr Christie showed the congratulations card that he received on retiring from Community Council exactly 10 years ago. He also received a bottle of whisky (he noted that he still had the bottle).
Senator George Mitchell, he of the Northern Ireland negotiations, is coming to St Andrews to speak at the James Wilson bicentennial lecture. Wilson was an 18th century St Andrews graduate who was a signatory to both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States. Mr Christie noted that James Wilson's father was Baillie Landale, who was the first Captain of the Society of St Andrews Golfers.
He suggested that the Community Council and the Preservation Trust should get together to display more of St Andrews history.
Murdo Macdonald made a firm commitment to meet Mr Christie to discuss what can be done with the collection on Thursday or Friday of this week.
2.1. Police
There were no questions for PC Thomson who herself had no items to raise with Community Council. The Secretary suggested that questions could be passed to the Secretary in advance for inclusion in the agenda so that the community policing officer could better answer those which need research. This does not preclude in any way questions being asked directly at the meeting of course.
Fife Councillors
2.3. Frances Melville
2.3.1. Pier — the safety barrier on the pier is soon to be moved by 150 metres on completion of some of the safety work, to allow traditional public access. (As requested by community council (Sep 99 5.1.1))
2.3.2. Harbour Gates — Pete Lindsay asked about the safety of the harbour gates and the winding mechanism after an incident reported in the press of a small child falling in to a winding shaft. Councillor Melville has said that engineering consultants would be brought in to recommend safety improvements. The work they declared necessary would be undertaken whatever the cost.
2.4. Sheila Hill
2.4.1. Rose beds — Grounds Maintenance Service are doing some work on the rose beds mentioned last month (March 2.2.2) and have written to Safeway about the state of their roses.
2.5. Jane Hunter-Blair
2.5.1. Abbey St/South St junction — Noted temporary repairs have been undertaken.
2.5.2. Abbey court/Abbey St Residents’ Association — meeting on 6th April.
2.5.3. Greyfriars Garden — Hardies (chartered surveyors) have conducted an independent valuation of the Greyfriars garden ground and state that £5,000 is a more than adequate market valuation.
2.5.4. Town Centre Design — drew attention to the design consultation for the town centre being conducted by Fife Council and Fife Enterprise (see also 6.3.6).
2.5.5. Improvement Fund — there is a new small repairs and improvements grants fund of £1 million to cover the whole of Fife. This will be processed through the local offices. It is intended for schemes involving council houses and their environment.
2.5.6. Waste Collection — the meeting with Bob Lawrie, head of Cleansing and Wastes Management service took place a few days ago. He seemed to take on board that his service is struggling to cope in St Andrews with current staffing/policies. Some outcomes:
Alfred place — residents to be offered the smaller wheelie bins which will be less obtrusive.
Some of business waste practices found inadequate.
There may be a partnership of money available to provide a part-time amenity centre service, skips etc.
Cynthia Tero asked if the bins in Melbourne Place had been inspected too? They had.
2.5.7. Melbourne Place — there was discussion of a pedestrian crossing at the top of Melbourne Place to join up the Lade Braes. While the idea was generally supported, Ian Goudie noted that the Community Council had previously opposed this location for a pedestrian crossing feeling it to be potentially dangerous to traffic to have a crossing at the brow of a hill. Archie Strachan reminded people that someone crossing the road thereabouts had been killed in recent years.
2.5.8. Lade Braes maintenance — as the Lade Braes were mentioned, Archie Strachan commented that the Lade Braes walk had received a very little maintenance in recent years, evidenced by the number of dead trees to be seen.
2.5.9. Shore Bridge — Roads Service is investigating the possibility of laying a footpath on the west side of the bridge to improve access to the Memorial Hospital. (March 2.6.6.)
2.6. Councillor Jane Ann Liston
2.6.1. Parking on pavements — knowing this to be a concern of Community Council she has taken to reporting taxis she finds parked on the pavement to the licensing board in Cupar in the hope that they could bring some pressure to bear on the drivers when the taxi licence renewal is due. Unfortunately what they had done was just past the complaints directly to the police rather than anything more subtle which resulted in a meeting with an unhappy taxi driver in the pub one evening.
2.6.1. Integrated bus/train tickets — further to last month she has confirmed that the integrated tickets are only available from Edinburgh to St Andrews as the tickets can be issues on trains but not buses due to the different ticketing equipment used. The integrated tickets can however be bought from travel agents in St Andrews. John Landon wondered whether the problem with issuing tickets was to do with Stagecoach discouraging competition, but Cllr Liston was sure that in this case it was simply the differences in the ticket systems used.
2.6.2. Leuchars Station reduced hours - Further on the subject of railways she has learned that at the opening hours for Leuchars station are to be cut by one shift so that the station building will only be open from 7:30am to 9:00pm. CCTV will be installed to cover the station outwith those hours, controlled from Dunfermline. ScotRail must get approval from the Rail Regulator but do not have to consult the public.
Several people expressed concern at this cut to because of the isolated nature of the station, its heavy use despite its remoteness from its major traffic centre of St Andrews, the number of young people that might be arriving from distant parts for the university or St Leonards School. Lindsay Murray recalled waiting for one-and-a-half hours one night for a sleeper that was running late, pointing out that this could have been quite unpleasant with no waiting room or loos available. Joe Peterson speculated that that cover might be provided from the nearby staffed signal box but Councillor Liston pointed out that there were also plans to de-staff the box eventually.
Pete Lindsay to write to Rail Regulator
2.6.3. Robert Fergusson - some more information on plans to celebrate the Scottish poet, who attended the university, upon the 200th anniversary of his death (5th September). There will be a memorial supper of typical 18th century fare in the Old Union Diner (a building which dates back to before Fergusson's time) with poetry readings and entertainment, including Sheena Wellington (opening of the Scottish Parliament) amongst others. There are also plans for a concert featuring Fergusson's work set to music for St Andrews week in November).
3.0 Minutes of March meeting.
Amendments:
2.2. The speaker was Ian Lawrie not Lawrence.
8.3. insert "raised a matter of allegations made in a newspaper (3rd March, 2000) concerning"
The amended minutes were accepted
4.0 Matters Arising
4.1. Rural Community Safety
report noted
4.2 Waste Collection Site
Meeting agreed to take up Mr Tom Steedman's offer to come and talk to us about the possibilities of establishing a waste collection site in St Andrews.
Pete Lindsay to write
4.3. Western Cemetery
(March 2.2.1.) Councillor Melville raised this with the Grounds Maintenance Service immediately after last month's meeting. Murdo Macdonald has not noticed any signs of the work being undertaken yet.
4.4. Civic Receptions
(March 4.2) This had been held over last month waiting for information on the financial implications from the treasurer. Archie Strachan reported that funds were not a problem at the moment and that any civic receptions should be judged on their merits in the prevailing circumstances. Peter Lindsay remarked that as many members of community council as possible needed to turn up to any such reception if it were to honour a visitor and that would people would be willing and able to be present should be part of the decision.
meeting agreed that 'civic receptions' should be regarded as acceptable in principle,
individual cases to be judged on their merits.
5.0. New Business
5.1. 20mph speed limit
Joe Peterson spoke in support of his proposal, quoting figures on accident & injury rates from a 1998 Fife Council report on road safety. The cost of road traffic accidents (RTA) in Fife in 1998 exceeded £50m in damage, lost earnings, consequential losses etc. Government has set new targets for 40% reduction in fatalities and serious injuries in RTA (50% for children) by 2010. A reduction of speed from 30mph to 20mph would go a long way to meet this target. He appreciated implementation would take time hence the "as soon as it is practicable" clause.
Cllr Frances Melville supported his sentiments but said that there was no money available to local authorities to implement such schemes at the moment.
Lindsay Murray backed the principle behind the proposal and quoted some more figures for vehicle/pedestrian accidents:
|
Vehicle speed mph |
Fatalities % |
|
40 |
90 |
|
30 |
50 |
|
20 |
10 |
These are a good argument for restrictions by schools where children can be rushing in and out without perhaps paying the attention they should to traffic, she felt. Possibly the busier parts of the town centre would benefit too. But she could not support a blanket 20mph limit replacing 30mph.
Ian Goudie criticised recent Fife Council traffic policy for lack of consistency, looking to reduce traffic in town while also introducing road improvements to increase flow through the town. He gave the case of the traffic calming introduced a few years ago on Lamond Drive, a residential route, to improve pedestrian safety which is now being used to route development HGVs through St Andrews. He was sure that Fife Council would welcome any expression of support for reduction in speed limit, warning however that the Community Council should follow opinion in the town not lead it, not to risk being made a stalking horse for Fife Council's agenda.
Ken Fraser asked if Fife have the power to bring in 20mph limits, which Frances Melville confirmed that they have since recent changes in the law to promote such things. Dennis Macdonald did not think this applied to trunk roads, but there are no trunk roads in/through St Andrews, Cllr Melville explained that all roads in North East Fife had been detrunked some years ago.
Archie Strachan then seconded Lindsay Murray's amendment limiting the 20mph to specific zones. She added the vicinity of old folks homes as suitable areas for restriction.
Helen Lawrie supported the original motion on the grounds of expense - only one set of signs to change rather than lots of extra signs to add ' and also on the grounds of the eradication of any doubt as to the speed limit in any particular part of town.
Murdo Macdonald reiterated doubts expressed by Ian Goudie earlier as to whether the community council would be right to call for 20mph zones without a wider consultation.
Joe Peterson responded to the debate. A St Andrew-wide limit would be easier to implement. Though people do break the 30mph limit there was reason to hope that they would only speed to the same degree within a 20mph limit thus reducing the danger. The reduction in road injuries and deaths which is the aim of such moves is a national UK government (possibly EC even) aim not a local matter. Urgent action is required as there is a predicted 50% rise in traffic nationally over the next few years which must increase the number of accidents that will occur. There are other benefits to speed reductions in smoothing traffic flow; vehicles do not dash from one jam to the next, allowing them time to clear. He gave as example the recent reduction of speed limit from 70mph to 50mph on the motorways feeding Glasgow which has actually decreased journey times.
Lindsay Murray summed up for her amendment by saying that a 20mph limit was unnecessary in many parts of the town at many times of day, that reducing the speed limit arbitrarily was just an inducement to motorists to break the law by 'speeding' though driving appropriately to the road conditions.
(The meeting then fell into a procedural wrangle over the voting as a third option (invite Roads Service to speak to us to get more information - prop Archie Strachan 2nd Cynthia Tero) won the vote but was then withdrawn.)
Proposal Call for town-wide 20 mph limit as in the agenda - Prop Joe Peterson, 2nd Helen Lawrie
Amendment: Specific 20 mph zones only in high-risk areas (eg Schools, old folks housing/homes) - Prop Lindsay Murray, 2nd Dennis Macdonald
5 votes For the amendment
3 votes Against
3 abstained
The amended proposal was then accepted without further opposition.
Pete Lindsay to inform Fife Council Roads Service and to ask about likely implementation.
5.2. St Leonards School Fête
An ad hoc committee to be set up: Joe Peterson, Ken Crichton & Bill Sangster to work with Lindsay Murray on a CC display stall at the fête.
6. Officers Reports
6.1. Chair
no report
6.2. Treasurer
report noted
6.3. Secretary
6.3.1. & 2. reordering business
agreed
6.3.3. Sponsored Swim - Total of £22 collected.
6.3.4. Kate Kennedy Procession - Joe Peterson to represent Community Council.
6.3.5. Scenic Map - suggest area to include East Sands, Botanic Gardens, North Haugh.
6.3.8. AGM - May's meeting includes our AGM.
6.3.9. Civic Amenity Site - Tom Steedman (Area Manager East, Cleansing & Waste Mgmt) offers to come to our next meeting of Community Council to discuss possibilities.
6.3.10 Pier Project - Nan Taylor writes: "...The total for the local fund-raising for the Pier project has now reached £9,877. As some cards are with stockists on sale-or-return we should reach £10,000 by Easter when that money has been gathered in."
6.3.11. Chris Lesurf - circulated a book "Funny Money" at a CC meeting a while ago - would whoever has it please return it to her! I have a lot of discards to pick up after the meeting so it may even be in the secretarial files - can you let us know when it was Chris?
6.3.12. Letter to Fife Health Board regarding consultation periods to be prepared by CL/PL was delayed by illness and seems a bit late now. Intend to hold over for next time.
6.3.13. Friend of St Andrews & St Andrews Day Holiday - Keith McCartney writes:
"May I, through you, thank the members of the Community Council for taking forward my idea for a civic award and congratulate them on the way they have developed it.
"May I also ask that you make them aware that the campaign to have St Andrew's Day declared a national holiday has received the support of the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland which means it now has the support of the leaders of the three main Christian denominations.
"In response to a letter seeking the support of Fife Council for the proposal Councillor MacDougall - Convener of Fife Council - has asked that the Community Council gauge the views of the people of St Andrews on a St Andrews Day holiday before he takes this further with his colleagues. To that end I have written to 13 different organisations representing a wide range of interests and have asked that they let me know their views by the end of April after which time I will forward replies to Councillor MacDougall."
6.3.14 Other Correspondence Received:
East Area Local Services Committee agenda 5/4/00 2pm County Buildings, Cupar
NE Fife People in need - report by the Red Cross - passed to HEW
7. Reports by committees
7.3. Health, Education & Welfare
Joe Peterson added to the written report that the Health Council was surveying attitudes and experiences of users of the out-of-hours doctor service NEFDoc. Would members ask anyone with experiences of the service to contact Chris Lesurf so comments can be passed on.
7.5. Planning
In addition to the printed report circulated at the meeting Ian Goudie noted:
7.5.3. Green Belt public meeting 20th April is at 7pm in the Town Hall.
7.5.5. Kingask. Noted that the Judicial Review of the Kingask planning decision had failed. The implications for the town were serious he said though it was too early yet to decide what should be done in the wake of this decision. He went on to praise the work of Penny Uprichard in raising funds to bring the case to court to uphold the status of planning documents, fair procedures and to preserve the town from traffic gridlock, even through the case was ultimately unsuccessful. He had not seen a greater effort on behalf of the town in 13 years on the Community Council. He hoped that community council would find some way of recognising this effort, in view of its own stance of opposition to the development. Consideration of determining appropriate recognition was delegated to the General Purposes Committee, though Dennis Macdonald noted that not everyone agreed that the review and opposition to Kingask were in the best interests of the town.
7.7 Recreation
7.7.1. Art/Photo exhibition - Cllr Liston to investigate double-booking of the preview night at Victory Memorial Hall.
7.8. Youth
Archie Strachan drew meeting's attention to the establishment, after many years discussion, of a young people-s café at the Victory Memorial Hall, and congratulated all those concerned.
7.10. Open Exploitation
As he had been working on gathering promises of sponsorship Joe Peterson asked what is the status of this project? Murdo Macdonald said that with no word yet from Maries Cassells on the status of the Pilgrim Foundation's proposed raffle at the same time our raffle was on hold. Pete Lindsay noted that the foundation's intention had been reported to community council in Sep 99 so has precedence.
8. AOCB
8.1. Flag.
Archie Strachan asked when the Saltire would be flown over the town hall again?
Jock Ballantyne, the hall keeper, was able to inform the meeting that at the last repair a wrong type of rope had been used and this has worn through very quickly and snapped. The appropriate paperwork had been raised to effect repairs.
John Landon asked if the Union flag could be flown instead of a Saltire, but it seemed to be the feeling as the meeting broke up that St Andrew's cross was more appropriate in a town named after the saint.