Repairs begin on storm-damaged St Andrews pier

"Crucial repairs" to safeguard St Andrews' historic harbour are under way after it was damaged by storms a year ago.

The harbour, which is Category A listed for its special architectural and historic interest, received "significant damage" to the harbour gates, slipway and long pier in October 2023.

The harbour gates were functional by late August, costing about £250,000, and now almost a year since the storm, restoration has begun on the long pier.

The repairs are likely to take six months and St Andrews Harbour Trust said its aim was for completion and public access by "late spring".

During Storm Babet, a V-shaped section of the long pier (also known as the main pier) subsided and it received damage to its walkway and capping stones.

The long pier is the sea wall which protects the harbour from the North Sea and storms.

Repairs to it, which have now begun, will cost around £750,000, according to Douglas Mundie, vice chair of St Andrews Harbour Trust.

It's been funded by Fife Council, local trusts and most recently a £360,000 grant from the Scottish government.

The work will be carried out by Lochgelly-based Realm Construction, part of the Purvis Group.

But so far, only a third of the total funding needed has been secured for all harbour repairs.

Mr Mundie told BBC Radio Scotland's Lunchtime Live programme: "The bulk of the costs - £2m of the £3m - is damage to the land end of the pier where a slipway and the end of the pier were removed.

"It gave the sea access to the slip face and it started to undermine the road and the car park."

He added that the trust hopes said to secure the remaining £2m of funding from the Lottery Heritage Fund, Fife Council and Historic Environment Scotland, as part of "phase three" of restoration.

The trust also has a fundraiser online and are keen for any philanthropic people with a love for St Andrews to get involved.

The pier has been shut off to the public for almost a year since the damage took place.

But the harbour has been functional since late August after the gates were repaired.

Mr Mundie said the harbour accommodates for eight commercial fishing boats that fish for crab and lobster and more than 35 leisure vessels, which are moored in the inner harbour.

"We have a waiting list for more berths," he said.

"We are a vibrant harbour looking to do more developments once we secure the safety of the harbour."

The pier will reopen to the public once restoration works are complete.

Mr Mundie said the area is popular with tourists and St Andrews locals alike.

He added that tourists would typically travel from the nearby cathedral and walk across the long pier to get great views of the nearby area.

The pier has traditionally been used by local university students - it is one of the oldest traditions in St Andrews and takes place before the start of the new semester.

Students dress in red gowns and walk across in both directions.