Madras College Judicial Process - Councillors comment

Cllr Maggie Taylor

Liberal Democrat Cllrs Tim Brett and Maggie Taylor have recently met with senior solicitors of Fife Council to discuss the arrangements for the judicial review which has been lodged against the proposed new Madras College site at Pipelands.

Afterwards, Cllr Brett said, ‘We had a very useful meeting with two of the Council’s senior solicitors and they explained to us the timetable for the review. It should be noted that arrangements have now been made for the review to be held in mid December but it could well be towards the end of March before any decision is made public. Even at that point, there is a possibility of a further appeal should STEPAL decide to go down that route.’

Cllr Taylor added, ‘I know that parents and children who have been waiting anxiously for news of the new school will be very disappointed at this latest delay. Both Cllr Brett and I have been working for many years to try and achieve a new school for the children in the Madras catchment area. This whole process has taken far too long and must be having an adverse effect on the education of our children.’

Cllr Brett explained that it would appear that the grounds for the judicial review are based upon:-

a. the view that the North Haugh would have been a better site for the school. Arguments for this have of course been well aired and;

b. that too much weight was placed upon ‘educational reasons’ rather than planning ones when the decision was taken.

Cllr Brett further observed, ‘It is ironic that the three ex-teachers of Madras should be arguing that too much weight was placed on educational grounds given that they and everyone else acknowledge that the present facilities at both Kilrymont and South Street are sub-standard and, as we know, were severely criticised by HM Inspectors many years ago.’

Cllrs Taylor and Brett concluded by saying, ‘We hope that this process can be completed as quickly as possible so that progress can then be made on this much-needed new facility for children in this part of North East Fife.’