Differences of opinion over the best place to build a new £40 million single site Madras College in St Andrews have again surfaced just days before pupils and staff return to the classroom after the summer break.
Campaign group Parent Voice, which represents a group of “ordinary parents and grandparents” say that after “countless disappointments”, they are campaigning to support Fife Council’s favoured site at Pipeland through the planning process.
However, another group Campaign for a New Madras College for the 21st Century, which was set up to oppose the plans for Pipeland and advocate an alternative site at the North Haugh has now produced a detailed prospectus to argue its case.
Wendy Donald, for Parent Voice, said there was a strong need to build the new school at Pipeland without delay.
She said: “We campaigned for the Pipeland proposal in the council consultation process, the results of which showed that 85% of voting parents agreed.
“We are now campaigning to support Pipeland through the planning process.
“We would ask people to add their voice so that with one final push we can finally get the school we want and our children need.
“Parent Voice is extremely disappointed to note that a group supporting a site, known as the ‘pond site’ are effectively undermining the active plans for the council to provide a new school for north-east Fife.
“In particular Parent Voice would emphasise that the pond site is owned by St Andrews University but they are not party to this publication. It is, therefore, more pipe dream than proposal.
“It is extremely irresponsible for the pond site group to put forward a plan which they cannot deliver, as they do not represent the owners of the site.
“All those with the true interests of education in north-east Fife should support the process of providing the new school as soon as possible and that means Pipeland.”
Former Madras rector Lindsay Matheson, spokesman for the anti-Pipeland and pro-pond site campaign group, said the newly published prospectus identifies how and where his group considers a school should be built which would “best meet the needs and aspirations of its pupils, their parents, staff and community users”.
He said: “The group’s inescapable conclusion is that the proposal to build at Pipeland Farm is seriously flawed and cannot meet the criteria necessary for the operation of a truly successful and inclusive school to serve the community.
“In complete contrast. a site on theNorth Haugh could deliver quickly and economically a state-of-the-art school of which the whole community could be proud.”
Mr Matheson said the prospectus (available at www.newmadras.org) has been sent initially to councillors, parliamentarians, council officials and representatives of St Andrews University.
Community councils and parentcouncils in the school’s catchment area will also be sent copies.
While a site on the western approaches to St Andrews might be the most ideal site for a new Madras, Fife Council has ruled this out as there are no viable sites, stating that Pipeland, despite recently being earmarked as greenbelt, is the only feasible option.
Joe Fitzpatrick, head of education (east), said “Fife Council has already taken a decision on the preferred option to proceed with building a new school at Pipeland.
“It is the only option that will deliver a single site school which meets the council’s criteria.”