JUDY Murray’s controversial plans for a multi-million-pound tennis and golf centre has been condemned by one of Scotland’s most prominent Green Party politicians.
MSP Mark Ruskell said the proposal for a 12-court indoor and outdoor tennis centre, trainer golf course, a Murray museum and country park, funded by 19 millionaire mansions and a 150-bedroom hotel, gym and spa, was “not sustainable”.
He said Murray’s dream of opening the centre in the countryside near tennis stars Andy and Jamie’s home town of Dunblane, Stirlingshire, “may be a good idea but it is in completely the wrong location” while giving evidence to an inquiry looking at the £37.5m Park of Keir scheme backed by top golfer Colin Montgomerie.
Scottish ministers will decide on its future following Stirling Council’s decision to turn down approval after more than 1,000 objections.
Ruskell, the Scottish Greens spokesperson on Climate, Energy, Environment, Food and Farming, added that Murray’s plans would detrimentally affect the Green Belt between Dunblane and Bridge of Allan.
Ruskell added: “Park of Keir frames the landscape of Stirling and the wooded hills form the gateway.
“It’s an important local landscape area in its own right, multifaceted and ever-changing when viewed from surrounding locations with a rolling patchwork of habitats and features including ancient woodland.
“This proposal, in this location is inherently unsustainable; it does not reflect either existing or emerging policy and has at best a tenuous link with local sporting and economic ambitions.
“It represents a permanent change in the nature and function of this land that has helped formed the identity of Dunblane, Bridge of Allan and the wider Stirling area. Of any site in Scotland considered for a development such as this, Park of Keir would be one of the most controversial.”
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