Judy Murray, Colin Montgomerie launch Park of Keir

JUDY Murray and Colin Montgomerie have launched what they called “our vision” for Scotland’s first purpose-built tennis and golf super-centre of its kind near Stirling, Scotland’s so-called “City of Sport”.

Judy Murray shows off plans for the Park of Keir site with schoolchildren. Picture: Park of Keir

The new leisure centre, at Park of Keir between Dunblane and Bride of Allan in Stirlingshire, will include six indoor and six outdoor tennis courts, a six-hole golf course with practice range, mini golf, a 3G multi-sport all-weather pitch along with changing facilities, coaching suites, and cafe restaurant - if planning permission is granted.

A hotel is also planned to reflect the area’s growing importance in tourism and sport.

Plans for the development were announced in autumn 2013 and following a series of public consultation events and meetings with key community stakeholders, Judy Murray and Colin Montgomerie said they had made changes to the original proposal for the centre and its surroundings.

The Park of Keir proposals will now provide for a six-hole golf course, reduced from nine holes, in direct response to concerns raised by members of the existing Dunblane and Bridge of Allan Golf Clubs that another golf course would impact on their visitor numbers and memberships.

The Park of Keir facility is aimed specifically at beginners and children who have never played golf.

Murray and Montgomerie said they had also listened to feedback about proposed housing which they insist is an essential part of the development, for financial reasons.

They said that after concerns were raised about the risk of further future development, “creepage”, and the potential risk of proposed development leading to the coalescence of Dunblane and Bridge of Allan, they were “keen” to enter into discussions with the local communities about them taking ownership of the residual land as a community park for leisure and recreational use.

Judy Murray said the centre had been a long-held ambition to deliver grassroots facilities to grow the champions of the future.

She said: “It’s always been my aim to create a real community hub that links with local clubs and schools to grow both tennis and golf in the Stirling area which can nurture and develop Scotland’s most promising players and coaches.

“Park of Keir will make both sports more accessible and affordable for families, but especially for youngsters. It’s very appropriate timing that we launch this new site as Wimbledon gets under way this week and the spotlight falls on tennis.”

Montgomerie said: “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for us to nurture the next generation of Scottish golf and tennis stars and I am thrilled to be involved. Park of Keir will benefit aspiring young Scottish sports stars and I am excited to see what we can achieve.”

The centre at Park of Keir would be a destination for families to play together and is planned to provide other leisure facilities such as a children’s adventure park, woodland walks and mountain bike trails, all geared to encouraging people to enjoy active sport.

The proposals were put online today at www.park-of-keir.com

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