Recently the Citizen highlighted the concerns of St Andrews University scientists about the pace of coastal erosion at the Eden Estuary.

Concerns have also come to the fore that material from a pre-1960's dump at the end of the sands, may end up in the sea as a result of the erosion.

Fife Council has now announced it is to employ a team of consultants to conduct an 'intensive investigation' into the contaminated land on the site of a former town dump.

Douglas Main, team leader for environmental strategy at Fife Council, confirmed the local authority had asked the consultants to provide a proposal for the cost of conducting an investigation and a timeline for any possible work.

Mr Main told the Citizen the council was "very concerned" about the situation but it was "too early" to tell how much work may be required to rectify the problem.

He added that because the area has several European Union designations including being a site of special scientific interest, there may also be a need for liaison with Scottish Natural Heritage before proceeding with any work.

He said: "It could be quite a while before we know how we will go ahead with this, it is really far too early to say how long things could take."

Current coastal protection around the estuary, a nationally important nature reserve just yards from the world-famous Old Course links, won't stand up to the erosive power of the sea without further work, according to academics.

In conjunction with the advisory group of the Eden Estuary Local Nature Reserve (EELNR) — which takes its members from Fife Coast & Countryside Trust; Scottish Natural Heritage; St Andrews Links Trust, Fife Council, Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, and RAF Leuchars — the St Andrews' researchers will compile a feasibility study into the best way forward.

Gatty Marine Laboratory-based Dr Emma Defew said possible management options included more sea walls, more sand, artificial dune systems, building breakwaters, planting more saltmarsh and allowing low-lying land to become inundated by tidal waters in a process called 'Managed Realignment.'

However, before any decisions are made, the current ecological status of the Estuary and what future climate changes could mean in terms of management and costs must be reviewed.

Already one local man with experience of how the Dutch control their waterways has suggested a barrier across the mouth of the Eden Estuary, controlling the flow of water and protecting the land, the famous Old Course and the surrounding area from "certain erosion and destruction."

David Seeley told the Citizen:"I am sure if the Dutch had possession of the greatest golf course in the world and one of their country's greatest assets was at risk, they would not think twice about protecting it in perpetuity."