WIMBLEDON champion Andy Murray has attended a public inquiry into a multimillion-pound tennis and golf centre near Dunblane.
The world number two player sat with his mother Judy, who is behind the project, at the back of the hearing in a hotel in the town.
But the tennis star, who is preparing for Britain’s Davis Cup tie in Glasgow against Argentina later this week, did not participate in proceedings. He told reporters: “I’m just here to listen and learn.”
Read more: Judy Murray - It is now or never for sporting super hub
The hearing was told that his mother’s proposal would hit the income of the volunteer-run Bridge of Allan golf club nearby and could lead to the “termination or closure” of its coaching programme.
Chris Whaley, president of Bridge of Allan Golf Club, said he feared youngsters taking up the sport would use the planned pay and play six-hole trainer course at the new centre, rather than the nine-hole course at the 120-year-old Bridge of Allan club.
He told the inquiry that the club’s income had already been hit by tougher drink-driving laws, and the “survival” of the club depended on the retention and growth of its membership.
Read more: Judy Murray - It is now or never for sporting super hub
He said: “Therefore it is not in the club’s interest for the town to have another golf facility. Some parents, who would otherwise have joined our club with their children, may choose to take their children to the proposed facility to learn their golf, thus reducing the club’s historic feed stock of members.
“Developing junior members often enables the club to retain them through to full adult membership.
“An additional facility in the town may reduce the cost effectiveness of our coaching structure and may in turn make the club’s coaching more costly or lead to its termination and closure.”
In answer to inquiry reporter Tim Brian, Mr Whaley said he feared golfers taking up the game at the proposed centre would go on to join the 18-hole Dunblane Golf Club, rather than Bridge of Allan.
He claimed Dunblane Golf Club “had links to the Murrays” and added: “I don’t think we’d get a fair crack of the whip.”
Read more: Judy Murray - It is now or never for sporting super hub
Mrs Murray and the Park of Keir Partnership, which includes developers King Group, are seeking permission for a 12-court indoor and outdoor tennis centre near the Keir Roundabout by the M9. It is also being backed by golfer Colin Montgomerie.
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