St Andrews local office closure prompts service loss fears

Concerns have been raised about the potential loss of council services from St Andrews.

The Fife Council office in St Mary’s Place is to close, having already ceased processing marriage documents.

St Andrews Liberal Democrat councillor Jane Ann Liston said the office was due to shut at the end of this year and no preparation had been made to accommodate displaced services.

She said: “Previously, the idea was to adapt the town hall so that the services currently being delivered from St Mary’s Place could move there, and possibly also the library.

“Now it appears that Fife Council considers that St Andreans will just have to go to Cupar for anything taken away from St Mary’s Place which can’t be fitted into the town hall as currently configured.”

She said it was “completely unacceptable” that St Andrews, the largest town in north-east Fife, should face losing services.

The office handles queries around issues such as housing, council tax and benefits.

“Already most people getting married in the town are being forced to make a 20-mile round trip to collect their paperwork in Cupar,” added Ms Liston.

“It is quite wrong that even more St Andrews citizens will have to suffer the inconvenience of this unwanted journey.”

Council customer services manager Diarmuid Cotter confirmed the office was earmarked for closure.

He said: “We are rearranging how we deliver our local services in the town and discussions are ongoing as to how and where that will happen. I can reassure people that we will continue to deliver services locally in St Andrews.”