(Copies of Agendas and Minutes of the Community Council are held at Fife Council’s Local Office, St Mary’s Place and the Town Library, Church Square. Those from mid-1998 on are online at http://www.louisxiv.demon.co.uk/standrewscc/)
Chair: Murdo Macdonald
Community Councillors: Laurel Aguilar, Ken Crichton, Ken Fraser, Ian Goudie, Joe Lamb, Chris Lesurf, Pete Lindsay, Murdo Macdonald, Gordon Pay, Joe Peterson, Ewen Sparks, Cynthia Tero, Penny Uprichard.
Students Association: Derek MacLeod.
Fife Councillors: Sheila Black, Jane Ann Liston, Bill Sangster
Apologies: Frank Riddell, Donald Macgregor, Chris Soper, Richard Douglas, Archie Strachan, Ian Hamilton, Frances Melville, George Davidson.
Approved
Scott Harper of Scottish Enterprise Fife (SEF) gave a briefing on proposals for redevelopment of the Bus Station following the community council objection to proposals for development of a bus way, parts of the bus station access, and extension of the Petheram Bridge car park. He explained that SEF have been working with Fife Council (FC) over the last nine months on a range of projects throughout St Andrews. However the initial application was in error. Basically a mistake was made; consultants exceeded their remit. It exceeded the work that should be promoted at this stage in the process. Work on the bus station area cannot be considered until the bus station redesign is completed. Similarly major changes to the car park are dependent on the forthcoming Area Transport Plan.
Ian Goudie expressed some general concerns: the local authority claims to have little money when transportation proposals are made; SEF have much more money but are less accountable. He suggested that we don’t need SEF spending huge amounts of money before there is an integrated background with the Area Transport and Local Plans.
Scott Harper replied that the budgets of the respective organisations were: FC £720M, SEF £21M. SEF’s remit is to work to bring economic development. There are more representatives from FC than SEF on joint working groups. In this case Fife Council representatives questioned whether a planning application was even required, as SEF had wanted. In the matter of consultation FC Transportation Service was supposed to coordinate with local councillors.
Looking to the future, there are significant plans for St Andrews and SEF want comment from the community. They will work to develop framework for consultation. Any work in the Petheram Bridge area will have to be carried out over the winter to be practical; community council and the public are urged to go to the October community consultation meetings (Tue 14 & Wed 15).
Away.
No items.
4.3.1. Lammas Fair Sunday Opening Successful; the fair music was off during evening service at Holy Trinity; no complaints as far as he was aware, but any such should be directed to Alistair Barnard who will report to Fife Council. May be able to do Sunday opening again next year. One problem was that the toilets in Church Square were closed for 2hrs because they were vandalised during the afternoon and flooded as a result.
4.3.2. Filming The filming around various parts of St Andrews for ‘Stroke of Genius’ (about Bobby Jones) went well.
4.3.3. Abandoned Car Noted that the vehicle abandoned in Market Street in front of Tesco has expired road tax and has been vandalised. It should be possible to have it removed.
4.4.4. Park & Ride May run over the Christmas period.
4.4.5. Blooming St Andrews Thanks to Mr Rintoul for watering baskets and boxes.
4.4.6. Town Hall Flagpole Rope renewed in time to get UN flag up.
4.4.5. Pedestrian Crossing at WH Smiths on South Street needs resurfaced.
4.4.6. Obstructive Parking He has asked for survey for more parking restrictions – ie double yellow lines – to stop parking on corners and other inappropriate locations that obstruct traffic flow.
4.4.7. Street Bollards Replacements started today.
4.4.8. Park & Ride Statistics incomplete, but well up on last year. He looks forward to a 12 month round service. Joe Peterson noted that coaches seem to be offloading and parking at the Petheram Bridge P&R stop. Bill Sangster agreed that coach parking needed to be looked into. Dennis Mac-donald called for the P&R season to be extended into September at least, as there are still substantial numbers of visitors until the end of the month.
4.4.1. Lammas Market Pleased to note the swift return of the notice board on South Street after its annual refurbishment over the Lammas period.
4.4.2. Fly posting Condemned a new bout of professional adverts on lamp posts, traffic signs etc, by developers and travelling shows.
4.4.3. Kinnessburn Working Group is now up and running. A programme is agreed to assess the state of the burn properly.
4.4.4. Phone boxes Noted BT’s new threats to public all boxes (see also 6.1.). She has raised the matter of cross subsidisation and BT’s regulatory environment with Menzies Campbell MP.
4.4.5. Bus stops The Bothways proposals have been delayed as some signs are proposed to be moved as a result of consultation, requiring a further consultation round on the new locations.
Ian Goudie called for better timetable and route information at bus stops, particularly at the potentially confusing Bothways stops.
4.4.6. Student Flats She has spotted a previously unrecognised problem of flat owners/letting agents clearing up after summer use before the students return. They are leaving bins out on the street for extended periods – presumably until the new student tenants turn up to take them in. She has raised this with official s to put pressure on the agents etc to behave more responsibly.
4.4.7. Ashleigh House Redevelopment Welcomed a condition on the development: the flats cannot be occupied until a zebra crossing is installed by the developer between 22/24 St Mary Street.
Report circulated at the meeting. Ian Goudie noted that Penny Uprichard is acting as minutes secretary, permitting more detail to be reported than previously; it shows what a small proportion of applications are actually commented upon.
5.1. Notes of Planning Meeting – 25.8.03
[N.C.] = no comment
1. 149 South Street Repaint sign, fit air conditioning. ELBC – work already undertaken. [N.C.] 2. 26 Wishart Gardens Conservatory. [N.C.] 3. 47 South Street (Seniors) Install two canopies, 2.25 metres (?) above pavement. [N.C.] 4. 191 South Street, K.K. Electrics. Install portable building in car park (rear of shop) for office space. Committee suggested max. 2 years. [P.U.] Letter enclosed. 5. 8 Rose Park Replacement windows in dwelling house – double glazed sash and case. [N.C.] 6. The Roundel Install brass name plaque. [N.C.] 7. 69 Hepburn Gardens Single storey front extension. First house beyond Middleshade Road, not conservation area? 8. 8 College Street House in multiple occupancy. [N.C.] 9. 1 Auldburn Road House in multiple occupancy. [N.C.] 10. 11 Alexandra Court Change of use to multiple occupancy. [N.C.] 11. 6 Moir Crescent Increase height of gate piers and install gate. [N.C.] 12. Craigtoun Meadows Form 16 static caravan pitches. Plans coming. 13. Monsoon 92/94 Market Street Add Accessorize. Removal of staircase, knocking through to next door building to form bigger unit. Signs not appropriate. [P.U.] Letter enclosed. 15. Kinnessburn Road Development overintensive, not zoned for housing, etc. etc. OBJ. R.D. 16. Argyle Street Amended application for signs. (Previous application requested 3 signs on house, objection sent to one on gable. Present amended application for painted letters on gable, objection sent.) OBJ. I.G.
(verbal report)
5.2.1. 76 Market St (Global Video) Proposal to install an ATM and projecting sign. Richard Douglas has submitted an objection.
5.2.2. Petheram Bridge see objection in agenda appendix L.
The developers of the proposed Scooniehill golf course have appealed to the Scottish Executive on grounds of non-determination (ie they feel Fife Council have not reached a decision fast enough). There are other appeals over Hepburn Hall, and a proposal to build onto the Greyfriars gardens.
Regarding the proposed meeting with senior council officials Ian Goudie now understands from Cllr Melville that a general letter on ‘late’ submissions will be circulated to all community councils.
Meeting approved the interim response (Agenda Appendix B).
PL to write
After a thorough debate on the quality and credibility of the evidence available; the balance of proof; the credibility of those involved in the project locally; and the balance of risk vs benefit a vote was taken:
Community council to write to Fife Council calling for the precautionary principle to be observed by not approving further masts until they are shown to be safe.
Proposed: Ken Fraser, 2nd Penny Uprichard: 8 votes Opposed: Pete Lindsay, 2nd Joe Peterson: 5 votes
PL to write
Agreed that Ken Fraser should draft a letter of comment on the basis of his report.
KF to write
Murdo Macdonald and Archie Strachan made the presentation which was much appreciated, they reported.
Chris Lesurf reported she had spoken with Roy Stewart of Environmental Service. The papers summarised last month these are rough ideas, and he would welcome feed back at when he attends community council in November. She noted that some facilities are so old and tatty they can’t be renovated. Looking into disabled access she explained something of the RADAR key system but pointed out that very little provision for disabled in the east side of town in winter when so-equipped toilets are closed for several months.
noted
Leaflets circulated.
noted
Are we able to assist as door-openers and tea-servers? No.
PL to write
Meeting had strong concerns about misuse of community council name.
PL to write
Regarding the proposal for a public meeting it was not thought appropriate to consider this until there is hard information, in the form of a planning application, to consider.
Concern at the loss of service 93. It was felt this was poorly advertised resulting in its under use. NB earlier comments about route/timetable information. Make these points to Fife Council Transportation Service.
PL to write
noted
noted
8.1.1. Town Gown Liaison noted
8.1.2. St Andrews Tartan Murdo Macdonald showed the newly designed St Andrews tartan for approval as part of the Arms marketing deal. The predominantly blue-grey design was felt to be reasonably tasteful and was approved.
approved
noted
9.1.1. Recreation
i) Senior Citizen’s Tea There was discussion of the new year date for the Senior Citizen’s Tea, forced by the late start of the university holidays this year. Association President Derek MacLeod undertook to look into this to see if there was any way of scheduling it before Christmas.
ii) Banner Committee asked for permission to buy a large plastic banner marked “Exhibition” or similar, for the Art & Photographic Exhibition, citing problems in previous years with A-boards and the weather. Committee was asked to provide details of costs for October.
9.1.2. Publicity A meeting is called for Monday 15th September.
9.1.3 Youth Committee Joe Peterson to try to re-establish now schools are back. May extend to the university student age group.
9.2.1. St Andrew’s Week Ken Crichton reported that organisations involved in St Andrews week would be able to propose attendees for the opening ceremony, and asked for names to be put forward by Community Council.
Cllr Bill Sangster circulated an information pack from Loches. He said the Alliance had investigated twinning further and understood from Fife Council that the Alliance itself could move for twinning. He emphasised that they would want to do this with Community Council backing. The Alliance does feel that they have sufficient backing from the recent Citizen poll.
Murdo Macdonald reminded the meeting that in February part of the community council decision to put off backing twinning at that time was to give the Alliance time to show backing through the town and the major organisations of the town.
Ian Goudie raised the question of whether it was right or practical to support twinning with one particular town, however meritorious, as it might offend those with whom we have long term ‘cultural relationships’, which was the most we would previously accept, and open the possibility of more approaches that would be harder to reject politely.
Cllr Jane Ann Liston called for it to be made clear by the Alliance that twinning won’t go ahead without community council support. She also wanted to know the level of response to the Citizen poll to judge how significant the 57% backing for twinning was.