'Save our outdoor seating': St Andrews restaurant asks council to reconsider

The owners of a longstanding St. Andrews restaurant are urging Fife Council to reconsider ordering them to remove their outdoor seating.

Ziggy’s has operated in the Fife town for over 40 years, and had outdoor seating installed during the Covid-19 pandemic to allow them to continue serving customers.

Ziggy’s, alongside many other eating establishments, applied to Fife Council to make the arrangement permanent after restrictions relaxed.

However, unlike some 30 other eateries in St. Andrews, Ziggy’s had their application rejected and have been told by officials it must be taken down.

Co-owner Annie Wishart says she can’t understand the thinking behind the Council’s decision. She said: “They say it represents a road safety risk in case of a gas leak or something similar. Our seating is semi-permanent and can be taken down and moved whenever, so it just doesn't make much sense.

“All the other businesses are allowed to keep their outdoor seating, so I guess there must not be any gas leaks possible where they are located.”

Annie says her neighbours have been incredibly supportive of her, and that there is talk of a petition being started asking Fife Council to overturn their order.

Fife Council said: “The proposal would obstruct access to services, remove parking spaces and vehicle manoeuvring space within an area of high parking demand,”

They also said it could set an “undesirable precedent” in St Andrews conservation area.