COUNCILLORS have bought themselves more time to negotiate over land allocated for housing in a contentious development plan for St Andrews.
Under discussion when Fife Council's planning committee met in Glenrothes on Tuesday was the finalised St Andrews and East Fife Local Plan 2009 which was scrutinised by north east Fife area committee last Wednesday.
As previously reported in the C
itizen, councillors in the town, the community council and influential lobbying groups have all called for extensive changes to the plan to protect sensitive views of St Andrews from being "obliterated" by houses.
At this week's meeting, the only St Andrews councillor on the committee, Provost Frances Melville, successfully moved that the members take a trip to the site and see the situation for themselves.
She also urged the public to make it clear what their preferences were.
Following strong arguments from the town, a significant area of ground at Northbank and between the Strathkinness High and Low roads has been removed from the plan's strategic land allocation for housing and added to the St Andrews Green Belt.
However, councillors argued that wasn't enough and that the whole area should be protected.
Councillor Melville said it was vital to get the views of the public on the proposals, given the length of time (six years) it had taken the plan to get to its current stage.
"We need to hear where the public want those houses to be allocated. The area committee's view is they should be on lower lying ground at Craigtoun," she told colleagues.
"There may well be residents in that neck of the woods who have their own views. Demographics change, but the lie of the land does not and the public's views may have changed again."
Committee chair, John Beare, said any points raised at the committee would go out to the public consultation.
While there was round the table consensus that a visit to the site would help councillors make an informed decision about the 'wedge' of land to the west of St Andrews, officers were at pains to point out that the land at Craigtoun was not all low-lying.
Martin McGroarty, lead officer for local development plans, said buildings could be used to enhance and frame views, adding: ''The view from Northbank is one we have said must be protected."
A further report will come to committee after a visit in August.
