Preservation trust wants 'high-level' probe into Feddinch U-turn
A preservation trust has demanded a "high-level investigation" into Fife Council's change of heart over a golf and leisure development at Feddinch, near St Andrews.
- By Gordon Berry
- Published in the Courier : 24.08.10
- Published online : 24.08.10 @ 05.39pm
A councillor has also described the council's new position as "extraordinary".
As we reported on Monday, council officials appear to have endorsed an access previously said to be illegal, and also decided an associated 18-hole golf course — thought to have been time-expired — does in fact have valid planning consent.
News of the about-turn in Fife Council had been given by a planning official to a resident, without reference to the north-east Fife area committee.
Now, the planning convener of St Andrews Preservation Trust, David Middleton, has written to the council's top lawyer, Ian Matheson, to express concern.
"This raises serious questions about due process and the authority of the decision-making committee, as well as the intention of the new planning regime to be open, transparent and accountable" said Mr Middleton.
He has asked the council for copies of emails, correspondence and files in relation to contact with the applicant and other services within the council.
"I request that a high-level investigation is held into this matter in order that full knowledge of these events can be gained and public confidence in the planning process in Fife might be restored," he added.
"I would also request that all officers' proposed decisions, or recommendations, in this matter are referred to the north east Fife area committee so that they may be considered by the elected representatives who have been involved in earlier aspects of this case.
"I also request that no notification to the applicants of any proposals or decisions arrived at by officers is made until such proposals or decisions are authorised by the responsible committee."
Councillor Robin Waterston said there had been an extraordinary change of position by the council.
"There are quite a number of unanswered questions about the whole development," he added. "I believe that all aspects need very careful scrutiny, and I will be seeking a thorough investigation into the whole affair."
Area committee chairman Andrew Arbuckle said councillors must be given a report on the whole situation.
"I am concerned that this has happened when this whole issue was still in our decision making process, and councillors have not been kept informed," he said.
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