Councillors have agreed to divert a well used public right of way that traverses the middle of a site earmarked for a new Madras College.
Members of Fife Council’s north east Fife area committee yesterday gave their unanimous backing to the diversion of core path 17 and public right of way through land to the north of Pipeland Farm, Largo Road, St Andrews.
Planning permission in principle for a new secondary school on the site was granted on May 16 last year, with a detailed planning application granted on December 10.
The existing path which connects Scooniehill Road with a steading development north of the former Pipeland filters is tarmaced and approximately three metres wide.
The path at the north end of the site leads into the housing estate, between Jamie Anderson Place and Lamberton Place. To the south, the path continues through the site and into the wider core path network.
In a report to councillors, access officer Sarah Johnston said that to allow the development of the new Madras College, the route of the path needs to be changed to allow for the accommodation of sporting facilities.
She said the start and end point of the path will remain the same but as it goes up through the site it will deviate around the new sports fields.
She said: “Gates will be on the path but they will remain unlocked at all times of the night and day.
“The original path is 222m in length. The new path will be 250m in length. The increased length of the path is not considered significant and therefore not considered unreasonable. The old path will not be closed until the new path is open.”
Councillors were told two neighbours expressed concern about increased pedestrian traffic connected with the new school. Concerns had also been raised about flooding.
However, councillors were told that the flooding concerns had been addressed through the planning process, while the level of usage is not a consideration in the diversion of the path.
A judge last week ruled in Fife Council’s favour, following a judicial review into the handling of the Pipeland planning application.