Sports chiefs champion Judy Murray tennis school

Judy Murray said she believed passionately about the project. Picture: John Devlin

Details of the support from the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) and Tennis Scotland were released yesterday by the pair.

Hundreds of people have objected to the plans for the Park of Keir development between Bridge of Allan and Dunblane, with some claiming the plan is a “Trojan horse” to get the large housing scheme past planners.

Others campaigning against the centre say it would destroy the green belt and lead to a merger of the two towns.

More than 400 people have written to Stirling Council, calling for the plans to be rejected.

However, Davis Cup captain, Leon Smith from the LTA, said: “This tennis centre . . . will greatly strengthen the likelihood of finding another Scottish Wimbledon champion in the future.”

Brian Mair from the PGA urged council planners: “This is our opportunity to demonstrate what Scotland has to offer and, most importantly, create a legacy that will benefit the sport and country in the years to come.”

And in a joint statement, Tennis Scotland chairman Gordon Baker and president Ian Conway said: “Given our ambitions to grow the game in Scotland on the back of a golden period for tennis, these proposals should be given serious consideration.”

The centre will include six indoor and six outdoor tennis courts, a six-hole golf course with practice range, mini golf, and an all-weather pitch along with changing facilities, coaching suites and a restaurant. The plans also include 100 homes and a hotel on the 282-acre site.

But locals are calling on Murray, who brought up her tennis star sons Andy and Jamie in Dunblane and lives in Bridge of Allan, to listen to them.

Ann Shaw, of campaign group Residents Against Greenbelt Erosion (Rage), said: “Her legacy looks like it will be that she destroyed the green belt between her home towns, taking away their identity and turning them into one big anonymous commuter town.”

The developers said they had listened to residents’ feedback and the housing was needed to ensure the development was built “debt-free”, reducing the cost of accessing the facilities.

They stressed that only 40 acres are being used for the sports facilities, hotel and housing, and said they are keen to talk to residents about making the rest of the green space into a “community park”.

Murray, mother of tennis star Andy Murray, said: “Park of Keir represents a once-in-a-lifetime chance for us to establish a sporting facility that is open to all. I am passionate about this project and the opportunity it presents for us to create a lasting sporting legacy for the benefit of families across Scotland.”

Golfer Mongomerie, the winner of more than 40 international tournament titles and a former Ryder Cup captain, added: “I hope that the Park of Keir development will benefit aspiring young sports stars for many generations to come.”