Sir Andy Murray has expressed his disappointment after plans for a tennis centre near his hometown of Dunblane were scrapped.
The British sporting hero’s mother, Judy, had been leading the charge to build a £20million community multi-sport facility at nearby Park of Keir to mark the Murray family’s tennis legacy.
Murray was the first British man in 77 years to win Wimbledon when he triumphed over Novak Djokovic in 2013
Murray was the first British man in 77 years to win Wimbledon when he triumphed over Novak Djokovic in 2013.
Despite the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) pledging £5m to the project, it faced strong opposition from campaigners, who said it should not be built on green belt land.
And a spokesperson for Judy’s charity, the Murray Play Foundation, has announced that the plan will be unable to go ahead in its current form.
A statement read: “Over 12 years, Judy has invested significant time and encountered indifference and opposition for much of that period.
However, she and her team persevered until several factors conspired to leave the project unviable in its current form.
“We no longer plan to seek a detailed planning consent on the site at Park of Keir.”
Among the factors behind the decision, the statement cited: “Significant increases in construction, material, energy and labour costs, a lengthy and uncertain planning process, and protracted discussions with governing bodies.”
Sir Andy, who retired from tennis following the Paris Olympics earlier this summer having won three Grand Slam singles titles and two Games gold medals in a stellar career, reacted to the news on social media.
