Pitched battle at school

A DEEPENING row over sports pitch provision at the new Madras College in St Andrews has led to calls for an independent review of the decisionmaking process.

It comes after Fife Council ditched plans for a 2G pitch at the £50 million community use school, in favour of two 3G pitches.

The move has angered local hockey players who say the longer artificial surface is unsuitable for the game beyond S3 level.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie is now calling for an external review. He has also launched a petition calling for a U-turn, which was signed by almost 900 people in two days.

St Andrews has several hockey teams, as well school players, but only one sand-dressed 2G pitch at St Andrews University Sports Centre.

Mr Rennie said: “Hockey is a popular sport especially for women and girls. I also worry that a lack of local provision and facilities will result in children and young people having to travel to play their home games.”

Rachel Philp, a hockey coach at Madras College, said: “We are concerned that the best option for a diverse range of sports has not been properly researched.”

Council education head Shelagh McLean said the school and community use team felt strongly that provision of a specialist rugby pitch and a similar all-weather pitch would be most useful to the town.

THE long-awaited reopening of the Barnhill Post Office has been welcomed by locals.

The original post office facility was closed after a fire broke out on Halloween 2018 in MS News Store, where the service was based.

The new premises is now situated within nearby Zaveri Newsagent, on Abercrombie Street, and it has now opened for business for the first time.

Shop owner Naeem Zaveri praised the reaction of local residents, who flocked to the shop to use the facilities for the first time. He said: “It’s been very busy.

A GARAGE boss has been found guilty of biting an 87-year-old man during a rampage in a city social club.

William Abbott sank his teeth into Robert Young’s arm during a karaoke evening at the Dee Social Club on Taylor Street.

Dundee Sheriff Court heard the thug was seen throwing beer mats on to the dancefloor before being asked to leave the club.

Abbott then proceeded to bite Mr Young, now 88, who had taken umbrage with the behaviour of the 35-year-old.

Giving evidence, car garage manager Abbott said he was actually the victim of an assault, claiming he was punched and kicked while on the ground.

But a jury found him guilty of biting Mr Young, who suffered a stroke in December, on the body to his injury on February 24 last year.

Abbott, of Ettrick Crescent, was cleared of attacking club vice-president Paul Neave and patron Derek Spink.

He was also cleared of a charge of culpably and recklessly throwing glass tumblers.

Mr Young told the court that Abbott was “off his nut” during the incident. He said: “I was asking him to leave the club. Somebody else came over and said to him as well.