Parents fighting for a new single site Madras College thanked councillors for an “early Christmas present” after they gave their final backing for the school to be built at Pipeland.
Fife Council’s north east planning committee voted by eight votes to four in favour of the detailed planning application after a tense three-hour question and answer session with council officials.
Only a judicial review being heard at the Court of Session next week can now prevent the school being built on the controversial greenbelt site to the south of St Andrews.
After Wednesday’s vote there were multiple calls for the St Andrews Environmental Protection Association Ltd (STEPAL), which has called for a judicial review into the process Fife Council used to select the Pipeland site, to withdraw its legal challenge.
A spokesperson for pro-Pipeland campaign group Parent Voice told The Courier: “We are absolutely delighted with this outcome. The planning process is now complete for this desperately needed new school, and we thank the councillors who had the courage to stand with the families of north-east Fife on this issue.
“Only STEPAL’s futile legal challenge now stands in the way, and we would once again ask those behind it to take a long hard look in the mirror.
“The directors have it in their gift now to give the children of North East Fife an amazing Christmas present by calling time on their legal charade.”
Cupar independent Bryan Poole, the council’s executive spokesperson for education, also urged STEPAL to reconsider its position.
He said: “I’m delighted with the outcome. It’s another hurdle that’s been overcome. For the kids, parents, teachers and future generations, it is time for everyone to now pull together on this and accept the result.”
St Andrews Labour councillor Brian Thomson said: “The only obstacle to the development of a much needed school is the judicial review that is being pursued by three former teachers.
“Given that there is no ‘Plan B’, the only ‘success’ that they and their supporters can achieve is further delaying the construction of a school at the Pipeland site.
“Even at this late stage, I hope that they can put the children and young people of the local area first, and reconsider their decision to pursue a judicial review.”
The application by Fife Council for a secondary school with associated facilities including access, car parking/bus stance, playing fields, regrading of land and alterations to a path was recommended for conditional approval by council planning officials.
Planning permission in principle for the greenbelt site was previously rejected by the north east planning committee but approved by the full Fife Council and backed by the Scottish Government which decided not to call in the decision.
This was the sixth and final stage of what has been a lengthy and often heated Fife Council planning process and the level of interest was reflected by a jam-packed public gallery in Cupar County Hall with some Parent Voice campaigners at first unable to gain entry due to the lack of seats.
HOW THEY VOTED
Put to the vote, those voting in favour of Pipeland were councillors Frances Melville (Lib Dem), Bill Connor (SNP), Tim Brett (Lib Dem), Donald Lothian (Lib Dem), Karen Marjoram (SNP), Andy Heer (Conservative), Keith McCartney (SNP) and Bryan Poole (independent).
Those voting against were councillors Dorothea Morrison (Conservative), John Docherty (SNP), Donald MacGregor (Lib Dem) and David Macdiarmid (SNP).
St Andrews Labour councillor Brian Thomson did not take part in the decision making process after seeking legal advice over a potential conflict of interest.
Meanwhile, Lib Dem councillors Margaret Kennedy, Margaret Taylor and Elizabeth Riches sent their apologies and did not attend.