Promised benefits don’t stack up for town

Sir, – The claim by Robertson Property that St Andrews is going to benefit to the tune of £23 million from their proposed development at Abbey Park, as well as gaining a landscaped park for the use of local residents, is wholly bogus.

As previous contributors have pointed out, the hotel and student residences are neither needed nor wanted.

Since Robertson already own the site it is hard to see how the hotel and student accommodation blocks will cost £23m.

What’s more Robertson’s policy is to use outside contractors, so St Andrews firms can expect precious few of the promised millions to come their way.

Furthermore, the longer term benefits fall far short of expectations, with only six full-time and 22 part-time jobs being created, compared with the 30-100 jobs previously expected from a hotel development.

As for the so-called landscaped park for the use of local residents, this is just a tiny strip of ground between the proposed concrete blocks and the existing townhouses.

Why on earth would locals travel to Abbey Park to make use of a postage stamp-size strip of grass overlooked by a four-storey hotel and student residence?

As for the existing residents of Abbey Park all they can look forward to if this planning application is approved is another two years of noise, dirt, dust and disruption, followed by the occupation of a hotel and student accommodation which they totally oppose.

Perhaps Robertson can explain how this is to their benefit? Professor MP Collins. Orchard Row, St Andrews.

An architect’s drawing of the proposed Abbey Park development.