The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Landowner drops out of legal battle over new Madras site
St andrews: Confidence in Fife Council’s ‘good case’ in battle with STEPAL
A landowner is so confident that construction of a new secondary school in St Andrews will begin soon, it has dropped out of a legal battle.
Hermiston Securities, which owns the Pipeland site selected for the new Madras College, believes Fife Council’s case is so strong it can win alone.
The local authority is defending the project in an appeal by St Andrews Environmental Protection Association Limited (STEPAL), whose petition to the Court of Session for a judicial review was refused at the end of last year.
The company set up to fight the proposal to build the school at Pipeland told The Courier that Hermiston Securities “offered” to withdraw after STEPAL won a protective expenses order limiting its liability for costs.
Hermiston Securities development director Stewart McPhail confirmed its withdrawal but said it informed STEPAL of the move made as its involvement was deemed unnecessary and a waste of money.
Mr McPhail said: “The reason we are withdrawing is the council put forward such a good case first time round.
“We are absolutely behind the council and are very, very confident that the new Madras College will start being built at Pipeland early next year.”
STEPAL said a finding of misconduct by St Andrews councillor Brian Thomson in relation to the project and criticism by Audit Scotland of aspects of governance had exposed “serious errors”.
Director Mary Jack said: “We were happy to accept Hermiston’s offer to withdraw from proceedings.
“We would urge Fife Council and individual councillors to recognise that it is not too late to re-engage with the community and to work towards an alternative solution which unites rather than divides the people of St Andrews and north-east Fife.”
Fife Council leader Councillor David Ross said the withdrawal of Hermiston Securities would have no impact on the process.
He added: “I am disappointed that, in my opinion, STEPAL is simply continuing to make mischief in its attempts to delay the provision of a much-needed new school for the St Andrews area.
“The council remains committed to progressing with this project with the support of a majority of parents, pupils and other members of the community.”
The council also said Audit Scotland had reviewed all capital projects and recommendations of good practice, some of relevance to the Madras project, will be implemented.
The appeal has been set for January 12 and 13.
In my opinion, STEPAL is simply continuing to make mischief ... COUNCILLOR DAVID ROSS