Murray and Montgomerie announce Stirling tennis-golf centre plan

The new centre is to be built at Park of Keir between Dunblane and Bridge of Allan

Andy Murray's mother Judy and golfer Colin Montgomerie have announced plans for Scotland's first purpose-built tennis and golf centre in Stirling.

It will located at Park of Keir between Dunblane and Bridge of Allan.

It will be part of the Stirling Sports Campus which takes in the University of Stirling's sports facilities and the Forthbank sports complex.

Stirling is one of three cities vying to be the site for Scotland's National Performance Centre for Sport.

The new tennis and golf centre will have six indoor and six outdoor tennis courts, a nine-hole golf course with practice range, mini-golf, multi-sport artificial grass courts along with changing facilities, coaching suites and a cafe.

Plans for the wider development also include a hotel, children's adventure park, woodland walks and mountain bike trails.

Speaking on a visit to Dunblane last year after victory at the US Open and the Olympics, Andy Murray told BBC Scotland he backed the idea of a national tennis academy to encourage promising junior players.

'Next generation'

The new centre has been a long-term ambition for his mother Judy Murray.

She said: "The centre will make both sports more accessible and affordable for families, but especially for youngsters.

The centre will have six indoor and six outdoor tennis courts

"My aim is to create a real community hub that links with local clubs and schools to grow both tennis and golf in the Stirling area and can deliver a pathway to excellence for the most promising players and coaches."

Former Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie added: "I think this is a fantastic project that will help nurture the next generation of Scottish golf and tennis stars.

"I am very excited to be part of the Park of Keir Centre and to work with Judy Murray going forward to make this centre a success.

Councillor John Hendry who is leading Stirling's bid for the National Performance Centre for Sport welcomed the tennis-golf initiative

He said: "These proposals fit well with our commitment to make sport a driver in improving health and wellbeing across society, encouraging all ages, but particularly the young, to become active in sport.

"Stirling is fast being recognised as Scotland's city of sport and this announcement strengthens our case for locating the National Performance Centre for Sport in the city".

A number of public exhibitions will be held during July and August to allow local residents to view the proposals and subject to further planning approval, work would start during 2014.