Published Date: Jun 30th, 2025
Update on Anstruther’s new lifeboat station
Phase 1 of the works to build a new lifeboat station in Anstruther will start on Monday 21st July, following the approval of the RNLI’s Transport Management Plan.
The RNLI have worked hard with Fife Council to redesign the work programme and site layout to help address most of the concerns previously raised. The council in consultation with the RNLI recognised that the work had to begin as soon as possible for the project to remain financially viable and protect those working in the marine environment. The initial two weeks of work will have little or no impact on car parking at the East Basin.
The revised plans help to address the key concerns which were raised when a start date for the work was first announced in March. These include:
- 20 car parking spaces will be retained at the East Basin.
- 50 car parking spaces will be available in the park and ride facility near the Co-operative Supermarket, in Anstruther.
- A bus will run daily, during peak times, to transfer visitors and locals from the park and ride car park to the harbour area throughout the day. (For details on bus times see the FAQs below)
- Public access to East Basin beach will be maintained throughout the build. Part of the beach will be sectioned off to allow the launch ramp to be built safely.
- Tour buses and coaches will be able to drop passengers at the harbour area as usual before parking in designated areas elsewhere in the town. The coach bays at Station Road car park have been reconfigured for this and during school holidays and at weekends Waid Academy will be used as an overflow.
- Tour operators have been notified, and signs will be erected for coaches and to direct the public to the park and ride site.
The new station is being built to house the cutting-edge Shannon class lifeboat. The first phase of construction involves work carried out in the water to build the launch ramp and sea wall. With the safety of the workforce paramount, it is crucial this is carried out in the summer. Undertaking this type of construction during the winter months, with reduced daylight hours and an increased likelihood of adverse weather, would pose unacceptable safety challenges to the construction team, as well as prolonging the build time and significantly increasing cost.
The RNLI are holding drop-in sessions at the lifeboat station on Wednesday 2 July from 13:00 to 8.00pm and Thursday 3 July from 09:30 – 12:00. This will allow members of the public to come along, see the revised work plans and ask any questions.
For more information see our FAQs below and visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the RNLI News Centre.
Roadworks – East Basin car park, Anstruther
Location
Anstruther East Basin car park is situated at East Shore, in Anstruther. The car park is next to the current lifeboat station and opposite the Scottish Fisheries Museum.
Work programme
Work will begin on 21st July and last around 18 months. The initial two weeks of work will have little or no impact on car parking at the East Basin.
Planning documents
To see the full planning application and the conditions included within this click the following link
Temporary Park & Ride link:-
Temporary car park
A temporary, park and ride car park has been created by the RNLI, near Anstruther Co-operative Supermarket. The current proposed dates for the shuttle bus running from the park and ride to the harbour area are:
- Peak: June, July and August – 10am-6pm daily.
- October half-term and Christmas holidays – 10am to 4pm daily.
- Mid-season: April (excluding Easter holidays) and May. - 10am to 4pm daily.
- Easter 2026 – 10am – 6pm daily.
- Off-peak – Weekends, 10am-4pm
Communications
Regular updates will be provided through RNLI and FC social media channels and website. Road signs will be displayed directing motorists to the temporary car park. Bus and coach operators have been notified and signs will direct buses and coaches to parking at Station Road car park.
FAQs
Why is a new lifeboat station required?
The new station is being built to house the cutting-edge Shannon class lifeboat. The Shannon’s superior speed and manoeuvrability will allow the RNLI crew to respond to emergencies in half the time, covering a larger stretch of coastline and offering greater protection to local fishermen, visitors, and seafarers. There is no room to expand the current lifeboat station further without the acquisition of surrounding land. A decision was made jointly by the RNLI and Fife Council to build a new lifeboat station further along the shore.
What will happen to the old lifeboat station?
A condition of the planning application is that the current lifeboat station will be demolished and replaced with car parking spaces.
Will the East Basin carpark be closed?
Only partially, 20 spaces will be available there throughout the programme of works. 50 Park and Ride spaces will be available in the car park which has been build beside the Co-operative Supermarket.
Where will visitors to the town be able to park?
The RNLI have funded a temporary carpark that will be available for the duration of the works. A park and ride facility will be in operation during peak times throughout the year, such as the school summer holidays and bank holiday weekends. The carpark has been built behind the Cooperative supermarket and is accessed by turning left as you leave Anstruther on the B9131 road to St Andrews.
Where will the coaches drop off and pick up tourists?
Tour buses will still be able to drop off and pick up passengers from any bus stop on East Shore and Shore Street. Having dropped off customers, provision has been made for them to park in specified coach parking spaces, before returning at a pre-agreed pick up location to collect their passengers.
The coach bays at Station Road car park have been reconfigured for this and during school holidays and at weekends Waid Academy will be used as an overflow.
When will the work start on the new station?
Work is due to start on 21 July 2025 and the works will take approximately 18 months to complete.
The first phase of construction involves work carried out in the water to build the launch ramp and sea wall. With the safety of the workforce paramount, it is crucial this is carried out in the summer. Undertaking this type of construction during the winter months, with reduced daylight hours and an increased likelihood of adverse weather, would pose unacceptable safety challenges to the construction team, as well as prolonging the build time and significantly increasing cost.
What about the parking spaces and beach that will be taken as a result?
The RNLI have worked with Fife Council to analyse the impact on parking and a traffic management proposal has been incorporated into the plans. Part of the East Basin car park adjacent to the new station will be closed for the duration of the build but 20 spaces will remain available during the works. A temporary car park with seasonal park and ride facilities will be available in the town.
Public access to the beach will be maintained throughout.
How will the traffic and buses be affected?
The usual service buses will not be affected.
To help minimise disruption, a temporary car park with a seasonal park and ride facility will be in operation for the duration of the build. Tour buses will still be able to drop off and pick up passengers from any bus stop on East Shore and Shore Street. Having dropped off customers, provision has been made for them to park in specified coach parking spaces, before returning at a pre-agreed pick up location to collect their passengers. The coach bays at Station Road car park have been reconfigured for this and during school holidays and at weekends Waid Academy will be used as an overflow.
Will on street parking near the site be used by those working on the new lifeboat station?
No. The RNLI have an agreement with the building contractor that those in the town working on the new lifeboat station will not use on-street parking and will instead use the temporary car park.
When will the park and ride service be in operation?
From Monday 21 July, a bus will run daily, during peak times, to transfer visitors and locals from the temporary car park to the harbour area throughout the day:
- Peak: June, July and August – 10am-6pm daily.
- October half-term and Christmas holidays – 10am to 4pm daily.
- Mid-season: April (excluding Easter holidays) and May.
- Easter 2026 – 10am – 6pm daily.
- Off-peak – Weekends, 10am-4pm
Will you still be able to access the East Pier?
Access to east pier will be restricted for the duration of the build but the pier will fully reopen as soon as work on the new station is complete. The new lifeboat slipway will run parallel with the east pier but will not be fixed to it.
Will there still be access to the East Basin beach by the lifeboat station?
There will be access to the beach at East Basin, but part of the beach will be closed to allow work on the new launch ramp. Access to Castle Street beach will be unaffected.
What consultation took place on this?
The planning application, agreed in 2020, incorporates the full assessment of the proposal and considers all the appropriate issues in terms of planning legislation.
The conditions attached to the planning consent are designed to address, as far as reasonably possible, the concerns raised by residents, businesses and the specialist consultees.
For example, the temporary park and ride facility, supported by a free shuttle service, is there to offset the temporary closure of part of the East Basin Car Park. The site and associated compound will not be close to established businesses, nor will it result in any obstructions that could inhibit regular access to them.
Why did the community not receive 90-days’ notice before work starts?
The notice periods mentioned previously were possibilities depending on the final detail of the RNLI’s Traffic Management Plan. However, with careful redesign and phasing of their works, including specific accesses for construction traffic, the RNLI have avoided the need for any significant notice periods, as there will be no significant effect on the road network from their construction works.
Where can I find the revised Traffic Management Plan?
Agreement was reached on the main points of the traffic management plan, permitting a start to works on 21 July. The RNLI and Fife Council are still fine-tuning the details of the traffic management plan and once completed, it will be uploaded to the planning portal.
What support is there for businesses which might be affected?
InvestFife is a collective brand, which incorporates all of Fife Council’s Economic Development services, including Business Enterprise, Land and Property, which in partnership with Business Gateway Fife, aims to support businesses in Fife.
For free, impartial business support, contact FifeMeansBusiness@fife.gov.uk. Further information on the services we can offer can be viewed within our Guide to Services
