Image credit: Drkirstyross, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Members of the North East Fife Area Committee have agreed to invest £7,250 from the St Andrews Common Good Fund to support essential works on the historic Whyte Melville Fountain in Market Street.

The funding will cover emergency repairs to the fountain’s foundations and new perimeter drainage which is work that was identified after the fountain was carefully dismantled as part of an ongoing conservation project led by the St Andrews Pilgrim Foundation. Specialist contractors found that the original foundations were not strong enough to safely support the structure once restored.

These urgent works are needed to avoid delays to the wider restoration project, ensuring the fountain can be returned to its central position in the town as planned.

Local elected members have expressed their full support for the investment, recognising the fountain’s importance as a local landmark and part of the town’s heritage.

Cllr Jonny Tepp, Area Committee Convenor, said:“The Whyte Melville Fountain is a well‑loved feature in the heart of St Andrews, and we know how much it means to local people. This investment ensures the restoration can continue without delay and that the fountain will be reinstated in a safe and stable condition, operating as was originally intended. I’m pleased the Committee has been able to support this work, which helps preserve an important part of our shared heritage.”

The Common Good contribution ensures the restoration project can continue as planned and supports the long‑term preservation of this historic asset for the whole community.