A former student leader has accused the University of St Andrews management of living in an arrogant bubble.
Michael Rolland, who was president of the student union in the 1960s, claimed they were blind to community concern following what he said was a “planning fiasco” becoming worse than Kenly wind farm.
The retired New York City investment banker was among several St Andrews residents who criticised the air conditioning unit erected without planning consent on the roof of the student union building in the town’s conservation area.
Last week, retrospective planning permission was refused for the “unsightly” ducting which could force the university to pull it down.
Mr Rolland said: “These unsightly additions, which resemble an industrial plant or an oil refinery, breach all guidelines for the conservation area and blight the area and the view from the historic streets of Greyfriars Garden, Hope Street and Abbotsford Place.”
He claimed that neighbours were promised talks on remediation after complaints were made last summer but then stopped getting replies to their emails.
Despite being a “loyal and very supportive” alumnus of the university he said: “All this is yet further proof that the current management of the university lives in an arrogant bubble, blind to the concerns of the community and to preserving the historic atmosphere of St Andrews.”
The university has already been criticised for its lack of consultation over the route of an underground cable it wanted to lay for the six turbines it hopes to erect at Kenly Farm, near Boarhills.
Mr Rolland said he must “challenge the university to open up to the community and to put in place sensitive planning and more robust project management capabilities”
He said: “This is not a PR matter, or a matter for far distant architects, it is a failure of leadership and a breach of trust.
“Important sites remain which the university plans to develop on the Scores and behind South Street.
“It is critical that they properly consult with the public, and that they adhere to approved plans.
“If not, Mossmorran, with all its shiny aluminium tubes, may appear on the cliffs at the Scores in defiance of planning law and community opinion. “
A spokesman for the university said: “We’ll be meeting with Fife Council planners as soon as possible to find out why the application was refused and in the hope of agreeing a prompt and acceptable solution.
“We regret this further delay to efforts to resolve the matter.”
