St Andrews Cathedral could be illuminated

Not everyone in town thinks lighting up historic ruins is bright idea

Ambitious plans to light up one of Scotland’s most historic buildings have ruffled the feathers of a group of locals.

St Andrews Community Council members fear the proposal to install architectural lighting at St Andrews Cathedral will have a detrimental impact on owls.

They also claim it could lead to the cathedral and its burial grounds being treated as a fairground amid suggestions pink lights could be produced on Valentine’s Day.

The organisation’s planning committee has lodged a written objection against the £195,000 scheme which would see the famous ruins lit up for the first time in a decade.

Local charity St Andrews Partnership, which is raising money for the LED lighting, said the points raised were fair but insisted there was no intention to be disrespectful.

The public has so far raised almost £11,000 for the equipment which the partnership believes would show the cathedral at its best.

It would replace lights which were removed after falling into disrepair, and has the backing of cathedral custodians Historic Environment Scotland.

The community council’s planning convener, Penny Uprichard, said it remained to be seen whether the “optimistic claims” that the lighting would boost the economy and raise the profile of Fife would be realised.

In a letter to Fife Council’s planning department, she said: “The new generation LED lights are said to be much more efficient than the old style floodlights but this is still light pollution and will have a detrimental impact on owls and other night fliers.”

She added: “The cathedral and its burial grounds should not be treated as a fairground but as an area for respect.”

Patrick Laughlin, manager of St Andrews Partnership, said the lights were more environmentally friendly and produced less light pollution than the old ones.

“Of course there is no intention to be disrespectful,” he said.

“The whole premise of our plans are to highlight the importance of St Andrews Cathedral – that’s why the plans have scheduled monument consent from Historic Environment Scotland.”

He added: “As everyone is aware, lights like this are lit up across the country, both at religious sites and historically important sites, and to my knowledge there has never been a case of lighting being used inappropriately.”

The cathedral and its burial grounds should not be treated as a fairground but as an area for respect. PENNY UPRICHARD, OF ST ANDREWS COMMUNITY COUNCIL

Picture: George McLuskie. St Andrews Cathedral has previously been lit up.