'It has proved impossible ' — St Andrews University pulls out of Madras College project
A £40 million dream to give Fife one of Europe's finest schools lies in tatters today.
Madras College.
The ambitious vision to create a state-of-the-art secondary school in St Andrews, sharing facilities with the town's university, has fatally foundered after officials at the seat of learning lost patience with the local authority.
The revelation comes after years of meticulous planning — and just two months after The Courier exclusively revealed the plans were "unravelling".
University chiefs insist they had no option but to pull out of the deal, saying there was "no end in sight" to protracted negotiations with Fife Council.
Talks over the best possible option to replace Madras College began more than a decade ago. The split-site secondary school is widely regarded as being well past its sell-by date.
News that the authority's favoured option is effectively dead in the water is sure to be met with dismay by local parents and politicians of all shades. It also promises to drive a deep wedge between the university and local council.
Confirmation of Monday's dramatic developments were contained in a letter sent to university staff by principal Louise Richardson, a copy of which was seen by The Courier.
"I write to inform you that, with great reluctance, the university is to withdraw from a longstanding joint project with Fife Council to build a replacement for Madras secondary school at Langlands, west of the North Haugh," she writes.
"Despite a huge amount of work by colleagues here and at Fife Council, it has proved impossible to realise our ambitious vision for a new Madras close to the heart of the university."
Dr Richardson said it was a "deeply disappointing" day but insisted negotiations had stalled for too long.
- See Wednesday's Courier for full analysis of developments and the possible way forward for secondary education in the area
A joint statement released on Monday evening by Dr Richardson and senior governor Ewan Brown provided further clarity. They claimed it was "no time for recriminations" but nevertheless unleashed a thinly-veiled attack on council chiefs, effectively accusing them of failing to drive the scheme forward.
"We have taken the initiative to step aside from the physical plans for the school, as disappointing as that is, in the belief that the pupils and parents of this community deserve a new Madras as soon as practically possible and will want to see work begin without any further delay," the pair said.
"We had aspired to create a great regional secondary school that was closely linked to the academic activities of the university; that had integrated facilities and shared services; that would cultivate the ambitions of its pupils, and provide them with access to one of the best universities in the UK."
However, after years of false dawns, the university has finally decided to call time on the plans.
"In 2006, we first approached Fife Council with the idea of building a new school with close physical, academic and support links to the university," Dr Richardson and Mr Brown said. "In 2009, the council agreed to open negotiations with us."
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12.07pm - 30.08.2011 Gerry - Dundee, Scotland UK Report This
Fife Council is run by the SNP, I believe. They will find a way to fix this mess, no worries. One expects PFI, or any version therewith, is clearly out of the question.
02.49pm - 30.08.2011 John - St Andrews, Scotland Report This
St Andrews is no place for young families who expect any representation or improvements. The two greatest barriers to progress are Fife Council and the St Andrews Trust. The first is incompetent and the second is an obstructionist group of pensioners, set on keeping the place in the Dark Ages.
09.43pm - 30.08.2011 Luke - St Andrews, Scotland Report This
What John said! As families are driven out of the town by dead weight of the Trust and 'Community' council, the stench of decay will increasingly pervade the St Andrews Golf-Themed Retirement Park.
11.29pm - 30.08.2011 Eoin Ryan - Glenrothes, Scotland Report This
The behaviour of the University is wonderfully spun. They should wear halos not gowns. Their behaviour for anybody who looks behind the spin has been disrespectful to the Town, pupils and the Kingdom. What they are up to, who knows!!
01.08pm - 31.08.2011 Turbinates - cupar, UK Report This
But surely the University could fund a new school from all the dosh they'll be getting from the Kenly wind turbine atrocity?
01.57pm - 31.08.2011 John - St Andrews, Scotland Report This
Eoin Ryan is simply wrong. St Andrews University was onboard from the beginning; the focus was always on the children. The Council/Trust have for too long been allowed to hold back any progress in town. They just found out that world class institutions like St Andrews don't suffer fools gladly.
03.19pm - 31.08.2011 J.I. - Fife, Scotland Report This
@ Eoin Wrong, wrong, wrong. FYI, St Andrews Uni IS St Andrews. It is by a miraculour coincis=dence one of the premier unis in the UK and if you don't know ""what they're up to"", why comment?
03.35pm - 31.08.2011 John Jones - Cupar, Scotland Report This
Since the Scottish Govt makes the University teach Scottish and EU students at less than cost, any cash from the Kenly turbine will be used to pay the bills, not do inept localpoliticians' jobs for them by funding a free school.
10.01pm - 31.08.2011 Univ. Alumnii - Ayr, UK Report This
Hold on , is this not a local council we are talking about, do you expect a progressive , innovative approach from a council?Anything they don't control totally they become suspicious of.Dr Richardson had it spot on . You simply cannot protract negotiations for years when others see it in months.
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