More work needed if car-free St Andrews is to be repeated

A St Andrews councillor has hailed the success of the town’s first car-free day and called for more work to iron out obstacles to allowing areas to be pedestrianised more regularly.

The issue was thrown into focus on Saturday when Market Street was given over to walkers and cyclists as part of World Car Free Day.

A feasibility study will now be carried out into how pedestrianisation might work in certain areas.

The results will be known in a matter of weeks.

Liberal Democrat councillor Jane Ann Liston said congratulations should go to St Andrews Space for Cycling, whose idea it was to carry out the event on Saturday, and to Fife Council officers for making it possible.

“It is clear Market Street on Saturday was a much more pleasant place than usual, devoid of the usual noise and fumes and giving pedestrians as well as cyclists much more space. However, if this arrangement were to become a regular occurrence, or even permanent, there are some things that need to be sorted out beforehand,” she said.

“There is the issue of organising shop deliveries, which could be managed by restricting them to certain times, or permitting the vehicles in to carry out the deliveries, but only travelling at 10mph, as in Dundee.

“Secondly, arrangements would have to be made to enable Blue Badge holders to park near the shops, otherwise Market Street would become inaccessible to those with mobility difficulties.

“All these issues have been addressed elsewhere so there is no reason why it cannot also be so in St Andrews.”