Calling all those who want to help shape the future of Cupar’s Elmwood Campus site.

Come to the public meeting on Thursday 26th February at 7pm at the Corn Exchange.

SRUC has sparked “anger and disbelief” among campaigners after refusing to attend the meeting. Wayne Powell, Chief Executive of SRUC, told them that no one was available to represent SRUC.

A spokesperson for the ‘Save Elmwood’ campaign tells us: “We wrote to Professor Powell on 6th February, giving him almost three weeks’ notice but apparently this wasn’t enough time for him to find someone to attend on behalf of SRUC.” They add: “SRUC has a large staff, including an executive responsible for community engagement and a board of 20 directors. It is therefore difficult to understand how no representative could be made available.”

Community engagement?

Politicians at all levels have recognised the importance of this meeting to the north-east Fife community and will be making the effort to attend.

When the SRUC CEO appeared in front of Holyrood’s Education Committee last month, numerous members emphasised the importance of working with local communities. Professor Powell told the committee that he had “learned the importance of communication and the importance of engaging more with the community”. Campaigners say his decision not to engage with this meeting appears to contradict that commitment.

Professor Ian Boyd who is currently conducting a review into possible future options for Elmwood will be present but it has been emphasised to those campaigning that he is “only there to gather information” and “will not represent SRUC, comment on contributions, or answer questions from the public“.

“Extensive consultation”

As shared by SRUC, Professor Wayne Powell, says: “Our Elmwood Campus in Cupar is an important part of our future plans.”

Sir Ian Boyd’s study will involve “extensive consultation” with stakeholders, including “staff, students, the local community, elected representatives, local authorities, colleges and universities, research institutes and key businesses connected to the natural economy and golf sector“.

It is due to report formally to SRUC by 31 March 2026, with findings to be shared publicly alongside SRUC’s response after its Board meets in June.

Five years ago, Sir Ian gave an online lecture – focused on Cupar as a 21st century market town – where he spoke of the importance of ensuring “the silent voice is heard” as well as the “long term” need for solutions to be embedded – and to connect “upwards not just downwards”.

Campaigners are equally keen to hear from “the grassroots in Cupar and surrounding areas” about “what they want and need from Elmwood going forward” – hence the public meeting.

Above: the current state of one of the buildings at the Campus – now almost entirely boarded up.

A spokesperson for the group says: “We are flabbergasted that SRUC is in effect boycotting the meeting – sidestepping questions and avoiding public scrutiny about its treatment of Elmwood or its plans for the future. At a time when trust between SRUC and the local community is already fragile, this absence speaks volumes. SRUC’s disregard for local communities and their need for further education opportunities could hardly be clearer.”

Study scope …

Sir Ian’s study will take “a strategic, evidence-based approach” examining …

• National and regional context, including economic development priorities for Fife and north-east Fife, and alignment with wider initiatives such as City Deals and regional growth plans. 
• Academic and research opportunities, assessing future teaching, learning and research directions, including opportunities linked to golf, horticulture, soils, sustainability, food systems and health. 
• Commercial and financial options, ranging from organic growth to larger-scale partnership-led investment models. 
• Use of existing assets, including SRUC’s estate and facilities, alongside the wider higher and further education landscape across Fife, Dundee and St Andrews. 
• Funding and investment opportunities, including public funding, private investment, philanthropy and commercial partnerships. 
• Risks and resilience, ensuring options are viable within SRUC’s financial and operating environment. 

Have your say …

Sir Ian’s accompanying words share his request for information all as part of the “extensive consultation” …

You may be aware that SRUC has asked me to develop recommendations about how it can grow its activities in the North East Fife region, support economic growth and source funding to rejuvenate its presence in Cupar. 

I am keen to hear views from as many people as possible and would value your input to the review. I would particularly welcome your thoughts on the following three questions in the context of the scope of the review (provided below). 

1. 1. What would you see as being the future strategic role of SRUC’s Fife presence (delivered from its Elmwood campus) within:
      1. the local community
      2. SRUC and
      3. Scotland
   2. What are the top three subjects which SRUC should invest in within North East Fife, what are the challenges they would address and what outcomes would you envisage from those investments?
   3. How should SRUC fund its future presence in North East Fife, in terms of:
      1. the capital investment needed to make its Elmwood campus into a first class facility and
      2. its operations at that campus and beyond.

 

You can email your responses to these questions via this link and feel free to share with all who might be interested.

 

 

Need more?

Save Elmwood is a community group set up in March 2025 just before SRUC announced the closure of the Animal Care Unit and with it the shuttering of the main building at Elmwood.

It is “campaigning to secure a sustainable future for face-to-face further education land-based courses at Elmwood while ensuring the site is retained for educational purposes“.

 

Thank you for reading.