1500 sign Park of Keir petition

Plea to planning minister for rethink

Petitoners have gathered in more than 1500 signatures urging the Scottish Government’s new Planning Minister to rethink a decision on the controversial Park of Keir development.

Park of Keir Partners want to build 19 luxury homes on the land between Dunblane and Bridge of Allan along with a tennis centre, golf centre and Sir Andy Murray Museum led by Judy Murray.

Local campaign group RAGE (Residents Against Greenbelt Erosion) handed a petition with over 1550 signatures to constituency MSP Keith Brown last week.

He has pledged to pass it on, on behalf of the community, to Tom Arthur MSP, the Minister for Planning.

Mr Arthur recently asked people to submit further information given the amount of time which has gone by since the original notice of intention to approve was issued in August 2017 by his predecessor, subject to conditions and the conclusion of a planning obligation or other suitable legal agreement.

RAGE spokesperson Inga Bullen said: “We are delighted that the minister for planning Tom Arthur has issued a call for further information in view of the length of time that has passed.

“We have been asked to submit information on any material changes that are relevant to the appeal.”

Following the presention, Keith Brown MSP said: “Throughout the planning process, I have worked to ensure that the views of my constituents were represented and following recent changes, I am delighted that the Planning Minister has provided an opportunity for local people to make further representations.

“I look forward to presenting the petition to the Minister on behalf of the group.”

Bridge of Allan resident and MidScotland and Fife Conservative MSP, Alexander Stewart also attended the presentation.

He said: “I felt it essential that I joined with and supported our local residents who rightly wish no Park of Keir housing development, as they presented a petition containing more than 1,500 signatures from residents against the development to the SNP constituency member, who was only there as the Housing Minister refused to initially accept the petition.

“This debacle need not have gone on for so long, to such angst from our local community.

“The entire fiasco has treated local democracy, our councillors and our residents with utter contempt.”

Green MSP Mark Ruskell meanwhile had lodged a question in Holyrood asking who would be approached to submit new responses.

Dunblane and Bridge of Allan Community Councils have been asked for their views, as well as RAGE, Stirling Council and the developers themselves.

Mr Ruskell, who gave evidence against the development at the original public inquiry, reaffirmed his opposition to the proposal.

He said: “I’m pleased the Minister has recognised that circumstances have radically changed since his predecessor said he was minded to approve the plans more than four years ago.

“However, what hasn’t changed is the depth of opposition to the development and I’m glad communities are being formally invited to reiterate their concerns.

“Building on Park of Keir was wrong when I gave evidence to the public inquiry in 2016, and all the information available suggests it makes even less sense in 2021.

“The Minister will see from these submissions that the community remains united in its opposition so I urge him to do the right thing; reject the appeal and save Park of Keir.”

Park of Keir Partners, however, have previously said they are pleased to have signed the agreement, that the process is almost concluded and that they are looking forward to sharing “exciting proposals for this new community facility”.

The initial application for the Park of Keir Development was rejected by Stirling councillors in 2015 after more than 1000 objections.

Following an appeal and public local inquiry, Scottish Ministers then called in the application and issued a Notice of Intention to approve the development in 2017, pending a Section 75 agreement between the applicant and Stirling Council to secure several factors including: affordable housing; education contributions; community access to the tennis facilities; and a ‘no more houses’ agreement for the site.

The agreement was finally signed this summer following a series of extensions to the process.