HOUSE of Commons Speaker John Bercow has come under fire for lobbying ministers over Judy Murray's plans for a tennis centre.
Dunblane Community Council has said Mr Bercow's actions in intervening in a Scottish planning matter by writing to the First Minister in support of the £37.5m Park of Keir sports complex near Dunblane, was "regrettable".
In a letter to Ms Sturgeon Mr Bercow, a tennis fan encouraged her to support the scheme saying that Ms Murray, the mother of tennis champions Andy and Jamie was “purely motivated by a thirst to make a difference and to help others”.
Read more: Judy Murray warns tennis could become 'irrelevant' without growth efforts
He wrote: “It would be a decisive act of leadership to give the go-ahead to these plans which will bring real benefits for decades to come. I do hope that it will be approved.”
Park of Keir
Now the council in arguing that Ms Murray's centre is not needed in the wake of a nationwide £15 million plan to double the number of courts in Scotland, said that for Mr Bercow "to press such a strong case for a commercial development is deplorable".
The council chairman said that the project to create 113 new indooor tennis courts across Scotland announced in December by the Lawn Tennis Association and sportscotland would ensure Ms Murray's plan for a £37.5 million Park of Keir sports complex removes a major part of its requirement and would be financial unviable.
Read more: Judy Murray warns tennis could become 'irrelevant' without growth efforts
And they have told Nicola Sturgeon that it would be a "travesty" if Dunblane became "the one place where a tennis centre was imposed against its wishes."
Terence O'Byrne, the council chairman has told Ms Sturgeon in a letter: "We ask that you show decisive leadership, ignore the pressure from the celebrities, politicians and sports writers, and reject this expensive, high risk and divisive development.
Park of Keir concept design
"That would allow us to work with the LTA, sportscotland and the Murray family to find a community-led solution to the provision of tennis facilities in Dunblane – a solution that is appropriate to the size of the town and to its place at the heart of the tennis revival in Britain."
Scottish ministers will have the final say on Ms Murray's project after Stirling Council rejected the plans.
Read more: Judy Murray warns tennis could become 'irrelevant' without growth efforts
Ms Murray's 110 hectare Park of Keir development, was promoted as “a once in a generation opportunity” to create a “fantastic grassroots tennis and golf destination that is open to all”.
The proposals included indoor and outdoor tennis courts; a six-hole golf course; a 4/5-star hotel; a country park; indoor leisure activities; a tennis museum and 19 resort homes.
Park of Keir concept design
But the plans faced fierce opposition from local residents who said the development would destroy valuable greenbelt land.
Mr Bercow and Park of Keir were approached for comment.
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