Claims that the future of a listed school building could be jeopardised by the new Madras College site have been dismissed by Fife councillors.
The St Andrews Preservation Trust is worried about the grade A listed Madras College building on South Street in the town.
However, St Andrews councillor Brian Thomson and Fife Council education spokesman Bryan Poole have responded to the fears of preservation trust chairman Graham Wynd.
Mr Thomson said: “I have made my position very clear on possible uses for all three sites Station Park, Kilrymont and the South Street building.
“I’m confident Fife Council will look to ensure the future uses of the sites will meet with the approval of the local community.
“In the meantime, I would like to reiterate the position of Councillor Poole and Fife Council, with regard to organisations such as the St Andrews Preservation Trust and that is to come and work with Fife Council in a spirit of partnership with regard to the replacement Madras College project.
“I and most of the people I talk to in St Andrews are just as proud and passionate about protecting the heritage of the town as Mr Wynd and the preservation trust.
“While I voted for Madras College to be built on a very small part of the greenbelt I would want to work with groups such as the trust to ensure it is an exception to the rule.”
Mr Poole added: “What I can say for definite at this stage is that Station Park will remain as a recreational space Councillor Thomson made that very clear to me in his letter and I wish to make our position clear on that particular space.
“I have asked the executive director of education and children’s services to bring together a small group of appropriate Fife Council officers to explore various options.
“I am as keen as Mr Thomson to bring forward some initial ideas around this as soon as possible and would anticipate we will be able to announce our thinking around this in the next few weeks.
“I would want to reassure Mr Wynd that the grade A listed South Street site is just as much a priority for Fife Council as it is for the St Andrews Preservation Trust.”
The Scottish Government will not “call in” Fife Council’s decision to grant planning permission in principle for Madras College at Pipeland.