Park of Keir Development with Judy Murray Tennis Centre

 

This application for Development on Park of Keir, a Greenbelt site, for

a Tennis Centre with Judy Murray's name on it along with other

sports facilities, a hotel and executive housing, was rejected by Stirling

Council in 2015.

It went to appeal at a Public Inquiry and was

rejected by the Reporter, who was overruled by Scottish Government

Ministers on grounds of the project being of 'national importance'.

 

This land has been the subject of planning applications for the last 30

years, with all plans for housing being rejected. We have one last

chance to ask the Minister responsible to reject this now.

 

Stirling Council and Mr King have now signed the S75 Agreement on

those conditions, after 4 years of secret negotiation. We had expected

that our Councillors at the Planning Panel asked to scrutinise it,

would have a vote for or against the agreement, but their hands were

tied and they were directed to simply note the content. All members

expressed serious reservations, one member calling it a travesty. We

agree, it is totally undemocratic.

It is reported that Judy Murray is retiring .What was to have been a

world class Tennis Academy attracting top coaches as envisaged by her is

now being referred to as a local community facility to be run on a

commercial basis.

It hardly qualifies as of 'National Importance'.

 

The condition relating to affordability and accessibility of sports facilities

was declared unenforceable by the Scottish Government's own Reporter at

the Public Inquiry, whose expert findings and recommendations were

overruled.

The so-called 'enabling housing' is only contributing a small

percentage to the build of the sports facilities, with outside funding

being sought, confirming our fears that this element is being used as a ploy

to build houses.

We are left with a flawed plan for a commercially run community

sports centre as justification for a luxury housing estate.

 

This is on Greenbelt land, including ancient woodland, which is important to the

 communities of Dunblane and Bridge of Allan who have sought to protect

it from development for 30 years.

 

In light of changed circumstances, local democracy must be allowed to

prevail and the 2017 decision be overturned.

 

francesfielding@yahoo.co.uk  on behalf of 

R.A.G.E      (Residents Against Greenbelt Erosion)    August 2021