News

The multitude of takeaway options in St Andrews is set to get a new addition in the next few months in the form of a new hot food outlet on Market Street. The new restaurant has now been approved by the Fife Council Northeast Area Committee despite opposition by both the St Andrews Preservation Trust and local retailers. The takeaway will take the place of the former art gallery which has been lying empty for 18 months.

The final televised Leaders' Debate in the run-up to the UK General Election (polling day being May 6th) took place on Thursday night at the University of Birmingham, with party leaders Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg taking questions from the audience about topics such as the economy, taxation and immigration. Despite there being no outright winner, several opinion polls have since suggested that David Cameron came out on top on the night.

Crime figures in Fife have dropped by almost one third in the past three years. Fife Constabulary, who reported the numbers, also indicated that crime was down 12 per cent from last year, equal to 2970 fewer people falling victim to offences. Drugs in the worth of £3.6 million have also been taken off the streets and there has been a 38 per cent reduction in serious assaults. These figures have been attributed to increased police presence in Fife communities and a new community engagement model which started in 2008

Plans to convert the first floor of Nisa into a restaurant have been given the go-ahead by Fife Council. This comes despite a range of objections from residents in the area surrounding the Market Street store.

Diplomats and other high ranking officials from the Caucasus region arrived in St Andrews yesterday to take part in a discussion on the conflict-ridden region. The event comes just two weeks after terrorist attacks targeted the Moscow metro. UK ambassadors from Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia as well as 14 other experts will discuss nationalistic movements and recent conflicts in the region of Eastern Europe that has seen 6 wars in the past two decades.

Fife Council’s new parking plans for the town have been subject to strong opposition from various groups, on the grounds that it would drastically reduce the number of free, long-term parking spaces. It would also restrict the time allowed to park in busy areas such as Market Street and South Street. The St Andrews Merchants’ Association, one such group opposing the plans, has a arranged a meeting so that business owners, hoteliers and members of the residents’ association and Preservation Trust can discuss their concerns with councillors Dorothea Morrison, Bill Sangster and Robin Waterston.

The National Union of Students Scotland and the University and college union has criticised the £1.12 billion funding settlement for Scotland’s 20 universities in 2010/11. Most universities are to see a rise in their funding this year, but Stirling and Strathclyde Universities’ subsidies are to decrease as part of their research funding has not been renewed.

Student’s Association election results have continued to come in this week, with the following newly announced. Abigail Lovell won SRC member for first years, while Sam Roberts has been announced as SRC member for sub-honours academic Issues. Andrew Smith will represent honours academic issues. For accommodation matters, Eleni Daniil is member for private accommodation and Callum Hawley will be SRC member for university accommodation. All votes have now been counted and a full list of results will be available soon on the Union's website www.yourunion.net/elections.

In the latest election results Chris Dickie has been elected SRC Education Officer and Andrew Gibbs the SRC member for Library and Learning Resources.

Elections took place in St Andrews on Friday as students turned out to vote in the Student's Association elections. In a 10% increase on last year, over 2800 voters were registered before polls closed at 6pm. Counting then carried on into the early hours of Saturday Morning.

StAnza, Scotland’s international Poetry festival, kicks off in St Andrews today. The festival promises a variety of events which will appeal to all ages, as over 50 world class poets will be taking part in more than 60 events between today and Sunday (21st March). Famous names attending the festival include Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney, Don Paterson and Jen Hadfield.
More information can be found on www.stanzapoetry.org, and tickets for events can be purchased from the Byre theatre box office. Scroll down for the STAR Special StAnza podcast.