Fife Council urged to speed up planned changes to make St Andrews’ streets safe

The local authority secured funding earlier this year to install temporary active travel infrastructure throughout the town, however, no changes have been made yet.

With pupils now back at school, and students in the process of returning to the town, there are concerns that nothing has been done to help keep people in St Andrews socially distanced.

Councillor Jane Ann Liston said the lack of progress was “disappointing”, noting that changes had already been made in Inverness.

She added: “The issue is becoming more pressing by the day – pupils are already stravaiging the town centre in search of lunch, university students are trickling back and the tourism season has still more than a month to run, with local holiday weekends in Edinburgh and Glasgow due to send more visitors our way.

“The pavements of the St Andrews streets simply cannot cope with the numbers wanting to use them, so more space must be made over to those on two legs and also two wheels.”

Penny Uprichard, chairwoman of the community council’s planning committee, said it was “worrying how little has been done”.

She added: “There are such long gaps between the meetings, and no decisions have been made yet. We really should be making sure that people know what to do, and that is a problem, because we don’t know how many people on the streets are visitors. I believe we should make instructions about social distancing visible on the streets, so that residents and visitors can see them and be asked to comply.”

Fife Council lead consultant Allan McLean said: “Fife Council has been working closely with local businesses to provide more outdoor space and ‘physical distancing’ signing has been erected. Footpath widths have also been maximised by the removal of overgrowth close to the path.

“Plans are at an advanced stage, aimed at creating extra pedestrian space in areas where there is high footfall. Discussions have been taking place so that the initial ideas can be shaped to maximise the benefits for local residents, traders and visitors. It is anticipated that the Spaces for People interventions will be rolled out in St Andrews during September.

“It is noted that the streets are now busy with pupils from Madras College at lunchtime and the council will be responsive to any business that feels that they need more outdoor space to help cope with ‘physical distancing’ requirements.”