The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Part of Fife’s coastal path to be closed for new Gatty lab work
University: Path blocked off at the East Sands for work on marine biology facility
A section of the Fife Coastal Path in St Andrews is to be closed during the summer holidays as work starts on a new university facility.
The path will be blocked off at the East Sands for three weeks from Monday.
Walkers will be able to continue over the sand and grass.
However, cyclists, wheelchair users and others unable to do so have been told they will have to take a detour via the A917.
St Andrews University, which is undertaking preparatory work for the construction of the new Gatty Marine building, said the closure was to be made on the advice of Fife Council.
The £10 million marine biology laboratory will replace the existing, outdated Gatty Marine centre and accommodate research into conservation and the effects of climate change on the world’s oceans.
It will be the base of the Scottish Oceans Institute, including the worldleading Sea Mammal Research Unit, and the executive office of the Marine Alliance for Science and Technology for Scotland.
A public outreach centre will encourage wider interest in understanding the oceans and the ecosystem of the North Sea.
The new facility is due to be complete by the end of 2018.
A statement issued by the university said: “The section of public path outside the university’s Gatty Marine facility will be closed, on the recommendation of Fife Council, for a period of three weeks.
“The closure is part of the development of a £10m state-of-the-art marine biology lab, which will cement Scotland’s reputation as a world leader in oceanic research and species protection.
“Users seeking access to and from Albany Park, the St Andrews Leisure Centre, and the St Andrews Holiday Park, for whom a diversion over grass or sand is not suitable (cyclists or wheelchair users) are advised to plan to divert via the A917. “Signage will be in place to assist.” The closure was to come in to force from Monday this week but was delayed for a week.
The section of public path outside the university’s Gatty Marine facility will be closed