First look at plans to transform busy St Andrews street

Fife Council want to update South Street in St Andrews to make it a better place for pedestrians and cyclists.

The council would like to rejig the street layout and encourage active and eco-friendly forms of travel.

Officials also aim to improve accessibility for people getting about on the street.

Fife Council is holding an online consultation until early January so that residents, visitors and businesses can share their thoughts on the project.

What does the consultation want to find out?

Fife Council is looking at the South Street area between West Port Gate to the roundabout at Abbey Street.

They want to find out what people think of their ideas.

This includes the five Spaces for People build-outs that were built along South Street. These have divided opinion among residents and businesses.

Planters remain on South Street, St Andrews, as a temporary measure. Image: Joanna Bremner/DC Thomson

They are a temporary change that was introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic to allow for social distancing measures.

Fife Council is asking how these could be improved, made permanent or removed altogether.

What could a new South Street look like?

According to the project site, any changes made to South Street in the future would be in keeping with the style of the street.

That means workers would use materials which would not look out of place with the current stonework and pavement.

New additions could include the likes of planters, trees and litter bins.

Fife Council has shared an artist impression of what an upgraded South Street could look like, to help generate discussion.

This artist impression shows what the West end of South Street, St Andrews, could look like. Image: Fife Council/Stantec

Fife Council could also look at widening pavements to increase accessibility.

This would be vital to people with mobility issues, some of whom struggle to navigate the street layout at the moment.

But changes like this could mean restaurants and bars using this space for outdoor seating lose out.

The council is keen to encourage active travel (walking, cycling) where possible.

If plans like this go ahead, additional cycle parking would be made available on South Street.

This is an artist impression which shows what the East end of South Street, St Andrews, could look like. Image: Fife Council/Stantec

To achieve their aim of turning South Street into an attractive green street, they could add trees and planters, as has been done in other similar projects around the country.

You can access the survey and further information about the consultation online.