Guardbridge Green Energy Centre road closure

Main Street Guardbridge will be closed to through traffic for eight weeks from Monday (15 February 2016) as part of the Green Energy Centre project which will breathe new life into the area.

The University of St Andrews is building a £25 million energy centre in the east side of the former paper mill site at Guardbridge.

The Centre will produce hot water from a biomass boiler using clean, natural fuels which will be pumped underground from Guardbridge to St Andrews where it will heat University buildings.

The project will create hundreds of constructions jobs, reduce University energy costs, cut carbon emissions by 6000 tonnes a year and pave the way for more than 250 University staff to relocate to Guardbridge revitalising the former paper mill and surrounding area.

To enable pipe laying from the Guardbridge site across the Eden, Main Street Guardbridge will be closed to through traffic from Monday 15 February until Friday 08 April.

The move comes at the end of extensive consultation with residents and businesses in Guardbridge and the surrounding areas.

In recent weeks the University has held several public drop in sessions in Guardbridge and St Andrews, presented to the community councils in the area, conducted an information leaflet drop, carried out media advertising and engaged in extensive social media and online activity.

A spokesman for the University said: “We regret that many people who travel through Guardbridge will be inconvenienced in the short term.

“We have done everything possible to ensure that the public, bus companies, retailers, emergency services and schools in the area have had full advance notice of the road closure and diversions.”

Notes to news editors

For information on the Green Energy Centre and associated roadworks, see: Road closures.

Issued by the University of St Andrews Communications Office, contactable on 01334 467310 or 462530 or [email protected].