Upgrade planned for Lade Braes

PATHS around a St Andrews beauty spot are to be upgraded.

The Lade Braes will have paths resurfaced, extended, widened and repaired. A new 27m path will also be created following the “desire line” opposite Hallow Hill, drainage installed around the John McIntosh fountain and a new surface laid on the ramp connecting the upper footpath with Cockshaugh Park.

St Andrews councillor Brian Thomson approved of the £50,000 for the work, which will be paid for by St Andrews Common Good Fund. He said: “This is excellent news. The Lade Braes is a special place, which is much loved by local residents and visitors alike.

“Several areas have fallen into disrepair over the last few years, but with continuing cuts in council funding, the money simply hasn’t been available to carry out the necessary improvement works and different ways to fund such projects have to be found.

“There’s often debate as to what should or should not be funded by the common good fund, but I’m firmly of the view that it should primarily be spent on things that will benefit the town in the long term, and improvements to the Lade Braes is a perfect example of this.”

A survey last spring identified key areas of the braes in need of improvement. Full upgrade would cost a significant sum but Mr Thomson said the initial investment was an important first step.

Fife Council’s parks and countryside service is to provide “in kind” works towards the project and investigate additional funding for further improvement.