Plans for a £40 million replacement for Madras College in St Andrews will go before councillors this week.
Around two-thirds of the school’s pupils come from the Tay bridgehead area and campaigners remain convinced Fife Council has made a mistake in choosing the Pipeland site instead of one on the western edge of the town.
Former rector Lindsay Matheson, who prefers a site on land owned by St Andrews University, said the “full-curriculum, educational and sports case for North Haugh is incontestable” and would result in reduced bussing for pupils.
St Andrews Community Council chairman Kyffin Roberts agreed, saying: “The Pipeland site is on the wrong side of the town for two-thirds of the pupils. There can be no doubt that traffic congestion will be increased if the proposal is approved.”
A Fife Council report says the school’s present split site is inappropriate and while Pipeland is not a perfect solution it is broadly acceptable.
It adds: “In supporting this form of development the service has placed significant weight on the need for the school and the lack of suitable available alternative sites.”
A special meeting of Fife Council’s north east planning committee will meet in St Andrews Town Hall at 2pm on Thursday to decide whether it backs the local authority’s planning application in principle for the proposed development.