Judy Murray has launched a verbal attack on Scottish sporting authorities over the shelving of plans for a major national tennis centre – accusing them of ‘apathy and a lack of ambition’.
The £20 million ‘legacy’ development had been designed to mark her family’s contribution to the sport, as well as the retirement of her son, Sir Andy, from the game.
However, it was announced last week that the project, near Sir Andy’s home town of Dunblane, Perthshire, had been axed over planning issues and rising costs.
The former tennis coach last night lashed out, stating: ‘It’s fair to say we have encountered apathy, lack of ambition and at times lack of co-operation from those whose role it is to promote sport and tennis in Scotland.’
Her charity, the Murray Play Foundation, revealed last week that it was ‘with deep regret and sorrow’ that the project would now not go ahead.
Judy Murray has criticised senior sports officials over the tennis centre plans
Andy Murray lifts the Wimbledon trophy after his triumph in 2013
Sir Andy, the former men’s world number one and two-time Wimbledon singles champion, who also won the US Open, retired last month after the Olympics.
His brother Jamie is also a seven-time Grand Slam doubles champion.
The Murray Play Foundation said: ‘The Murray family is proud of what they have contributed to tennis in the UK and remain committed to growing the game.’
The centre was to include tennis, padel and pickleball courts, and the charity said it would now consider other opportunities for sports and physical activity.
After it was revealed the project would not proceed Sir Andy, 37, wrote on social media: ‘What a surprise.’
John Swinney said on Friday that he remained ‘open to discussions’ on the creation of such a project. He denied the lack of a tangible legacy for the Murray family was a national embarrassment.
The First Minister added: ‘I remain very willing and very keen to make sure the enormous contribution to sport the Murray family have made, through the work of Andy, Jamie and Judy, is able to be built upon in the years to come, and I look forward to further discussions with the Murray Play Foundation about how we might do that.’
Rising construction and energy costs, as well as issues with planning and with sports governing bodies have been cited as reasons for the project’s collapse.
The Lawn Tennis Association had pledged £5 million towards the community facility at Park of Keir but it met opposition from campaigners who said it should not be built on greenbelt land.
One critic, Mid-Scotland Green MSP Mark Ruskell said: ‘At the heart of this project was an exclusive luxury housing development that would have been damaging to the local landscape and would have eroded ancient woodlands and crucial greenbelt land.’
Forbes Dunlop, chief executive of sportscotland, said that he would meet Ms Murray in the ‘near future’ to discuss potential progress,’ adding: ‘We are absolutely committed to recognising and celebrating the impact Andy, Jamie and Judy have had.
