A notorious eyesore in the St Andrews conservation area could soon be transformed into a public garden celebrating the town’s connection to Mary Queen of Scots.
The site, on the corner of Greyfriars Garden and St Mary’s Place, was gifted to St Andrews by the monarch and has lain derelict for more than 20 years.
It has become a magnet for anti-social behaviour and a major irritation for residents and visitors.
However, a new community group plans to create a garden, featuring poetry about the ill-fated queen with a statue of Mary as the centrepiece.
The group, called Poets’ Neuk, has been told its application to register an interest in buying the garden has been approved by the Scottish Government.
Chairman Graham Wynd welcomed the decision and thanked everyone in the community who had helped get the project to this stage.
“Putting this prominent site to beneficial use will be of enormous value to townspeople and visitors alike, who treasure the town’s historic environment,” he said.
The ground, in the centre of the ancient Royal Burgh is the site of the medieval Greyfriars monastery.
Mary Queen of Scots signed a charter on April 17 1567, only three months before her forced abdication on July 24 during her imprisonment in Loch Leven Castle.
Church lands were divided to the communities, the nobles and the church, meaning the community of St Andrews would receive one third of the church/monastery revenues and lands.
The residents group submitted its application using community right to buy legislation.
It was backed by 12 major voluntary organisations in the town.
The Preservation Trust and the Confederation of Residents’ Associations helped gather evidence of community support for the proposal.
The Preservation Trust’s Bill Borthwick said it had been concerned since 2010 about the badly neglected garden and the impact it was having on the town’s historic centre.
“Transforming this space into a new poetry garden will provide the town with a wonderful public amenity and educational facility,” he said.
“It will involve a great deal of work, both now and in the future.
“We don’t underestimate the challenges but I am confident that the trust will wish to lend its full support to bring the project to fruition.”
Poets’ Neuk secretary David Middleton said planning permission had already been granted for the garden design, meaning the project would be able to move forward quickly, as soon as confirmation of the formal land purchase procedures was completed.
