Fears have been expressed that a possible legal challenge could delay building the new Madras College for years.
Fife Council’s executive spokesperson for education, Bryan Poole, told a council meeting he had “on good authority” been told St Andrews Preservation Trust are next week likely to consider supporting a judicial review of the Fife Council/Scottish Government position over the proposed school at Pipeland.
If a legal challenge goes ahead, Mr Poole said it means Madras College’s 1,300 pupils could have to endure deteriorating conditions at the split site facilities for years to come as legal wrangles continue.
However, when contacted by The Courier, Graham Wynd, chairman of the trust, said in a statement it has “not considered supporting a judicial review and no proposal to this effect has been tabled.”
Mr Poole raised his concerns following a meeting of Fife Council’s North East Area Committee on Wednesday, which saw Mr Wynd and Joe Doherty of the St Andrews Town Commission on Housing give a presentation on the affordable housing crisis in St Andrews.
Mr Poole welcomed the housing analysis.
However, with the commission earmarking the Madras College Kilrymont site for the possible development of affordable housing, he warned any judicial review would not only impact on education but on the housing needs of St Andrews if the site could not be developed.
He said: “The Kilrymont site is dependent on the new Madras College proceeding unhindered.
“The irony of this is that I have it on good authority that St Andrews Preservation Trust, one of the key partners in St Andrews Housing Commission, are next week likely to consider whether they will support, financially or morally, a judicial review of the Fife Council/Scottish Government position vis-a-vis Pipelands.
“The Preservation Trust can’t have it both ways.
“They surely can’t be party to a report calling for the Madras Kilrymont site to be designated for affordable housing and at the same time supporting, financially or morally, a judicial review of the aforementioned decision which would result in the Kilrymont site being utilised for schooling for years ie, unavailable for affordable housing for years.
“I hope my information is wrong.”
In a trust statement, Mr Wynd said: “The future of Madras College continues to be an important matter for the preservation trust. Madras has been discussed at every trustees’ board meeting for the last year or so.
“Our next board meeting is on Tuesday. Although this is a private meeting, I can confirm that Madras will once again be on the agenda and I will provide a progress report.
“Any change in trust policy regarding Madras would have to be proposed and discussed and would require trustees’ approval.”
Asked by The Courier if he could end speculation and rule out any involvement they or their supporters might have with a judicial review, Mr Wynd replied: “I have nothing to add to my earlier statement.”
The preservation trust, along with other organisations such as St Andrews Community Council, have consistently opposed the construction of a school on the Pipeland site because it is in green belt.
This is a big departure from the development plan and they believe it could ruin the landscape setting of St Andrews. They favour pursuit of a ruled-out site on the western side of town instead.
However, the Scottish Government ruled last week it will not “call in” Fife Council’s approval of planning permission for Pipeland.
This pleased pro-Pipeland campaigners, who have emphasised the urgent need for a new school.