There can be no free-for-all

Sir, – Having attended the recent north-east Fife area committee meeting regarding the provision of HMOs in St Andrews, I am in agreement with Linda Holt.

In fact the only “shameful” element was student president Lewis Wood’s self-serving take on the debate.

Mr Wood claims to be “astounded by the lack of regard for students” shown by the councillors.

I truly hope he listens with greater attention to any university lecture he finds time to attend.

I came up to St Andrews University in 1960 and the greatest change since those days is not just the university swamping the town but the contempt today’s students have for other residents.

They turn the areas they dominate into slums whose streets would shame Calcutta and use the three-day “booze ‘n’ narco” thrash called Raisin Weekend to totally wreck Hope Street’s garden.

During the debate Councillor Liston suggested a free-for-all in the town centre which would destroy this medieval gem.

She had no time for older residents who she claimed – contrary to every other report on the subject – don’t want to live in town centres.

It sounded like a “final solution of the pensioner problem” in St Andrews which would have delighted the Wansee Conference.

Rev Dr John Cameron. 10 Howard Place, St Andrews.