Lift ban on HMOs — report

A REPORT commissioned by Fife Council on the impact of houses of multiple occupation (HMOs) on St Andrews recommends a ban should be lifted.

Findings of the study were presented to councillors at a workshop.

It i s understood t he repor t by Nor th Star Consulting and Research recommends the moratorium on new HMOs in the town’s conservation area be lifted and that they be permitted in up to 15% of homes elsewhere in the town.

Most HMOs are let to students of St Andrews University and their proliferation has been blamed for inflating housing prices, poor proper ty maintenance and creating neighbourhoods with few permanent residents.

The report concludes the moratorium has failed to do as intended and has squeezed housing affordability, creating more student lets in outlying residential areas.

In the coming months, councillors will be asked to decide how HMOs in the town should be managed in future.

The festival — which takes place on Sunday June 3 — attracts thousands of people every year, and this year the hotly contested Battle of the Bands competition will be even bigger and better than ever.

Organisers have extended the event to include venues in Perth, with almost 50 bands taking part in 13 shows between March 16 and June 2, with the overall winner given a prestigious slot on the main stage in front of potentially 10,000 people at Magdalen Green.

Bands from Dundee and Perth are being asked to register now for the event as the deadline is next Monday, February 12.

Dundee promoter Dougie Black, organiser of the Battle of the Bands competition, says he’s hugely excited by this year’s event, which helps raise funds to pay for more established acts to perform at Big Sunday.

“It’s always a great event and one that I find brings out some extraordinary new talent that we’ve never even been aware of before,” he said.

“The standard is always really high and we’ve had some brilliant nights over the past few years with some excellent young musicians going on to become a staple of the Dundee music scene after their appearances in the competition.

“This is the first year we’ve held any of the heats outside Dundee so it’s especially exciting to welcome all the young musicians currently playing in Perth as well as Dundee.”

Dougie, who has his own promotions company GJ Promotions in Dundee, is also on the Westfest com-

DUNDEE’S biggest outdoor gala day Westfest has launched its annual search for the city’s hottest musical talent.