"We have now received the specification from Fife Council's planning department detailing the areas we have to consider in our Environmental Statement," said Alan McGregor, General Manger of St Andrews Links Trust, the organisation responsible for the historic courses at St Andrews. "Preparing the Statement is a major undertaking and a very important first step in a rigorous planning process. During its preparation we shall be seeking meetings with organisations who have contributed to the specification, as well as with other interested local bodies, especially the golf clubs".
"We shall be covering transport issues, the ecology of the area, landscape and visual issues, water and drainage, the economic impact, the effect on heritage assets such as the setting of St Andrews and any archaeological sites, and the sustainability of the development, as well as explaining the need for the extra capacity."
St Andrews Links Trust has reached agreement to purchase land beyond the Kinkell caravan park to the east of the town, adjacent to the cliffs, and is planning to build a high-quality public golf course, which will be the seventh course under its control.
The Trust's existing six courses have been under pressure for a number of years, with rounds played almost reaching the capacity limit in 2001 at 215,000.
"In 2002, the slight drop in visitors caused play to fall marginally to the second highest-ever total of 211,000, but local rounds played actually rose, despite the very wet weather," said Mr McGregor.
St Andrews Links is the largest public golf complex in the world.