Drive to name St Andrews World Heritage Site

Ted Brocklebank, the Conservative MSP for Mid-Scotland and Fife, has tabled a motion in the Scottish Parliament calling on the Executive to support the plan, hoping the town will join the likes of Edinburgh, St. Kilda, Orkney and New Lanark in having its architectural heritage officially recognised and protected.

Mr Brocklebank said that as well as being home to Scotland’s oldest university, St Andrews is regarded as the country’s ecclesiastical capital.

He said: "St Andrews is recognised worldwide as unique. It has captivating and award-winning natural features, and it is also the undisputed home of golf. I believe St Andrews is a more than suitable Scottish candidate for the UK tentative list for the UNESCO award. Tourists travel from all over to visit St Andrews, and students from across the world come to study here. I urge Mr McConnell and the Executive to do their utmost to encourage the Government to obtain World Heritage Site status."

Anne McGovern, leader of Fife Council, said: "St Andrews is about more than golf and gaining World Heritage Site status would underline that. We encourage visitors to explore further than the town’s excellent golf courses, and this is where the medieval town centre comes into its own. It is eminently walkable, full of character and characters. While St Andrews has moved with the times it has kept its old-world feel."