No buildings involved in any future plans for Bannockburn battle site stresses councillor
A Stirling councillor has insisted that any tourism project on a controversial area of Bannockburn already rejected for a trotting track won't involve any buildings.
At a recent full meeting of Stirling Council, SNP councillor Gerry McLaughlan asked the council's leader, Labour's Cllr Gerry McGarvey, about the possibility of the local authority entering into a joint venture with the National Trust for Scotland on the fields near the Battle of Bannockburn centre.
Developers behind the trotting track proposals had already been refused permission by Scottish Ministers who said their project would impact the Bannockburn battlefield.
The NTS had been one of the most vocal critics of the track plans, which the harness racing community argued were their last hope of safeguarding the sport in Scotland.
News that the council and NTS could then be contemplating their own collaboration for the area was met with astonishment by some who were in favour of the track, prompting Cllr McLaughlan to seek to clarify what the latest aspirations for the land involved.
He posted: 'The proposals that I hope the council and the National Trust will consider involves no buildings - repeat...no buildings.
'This has now been clearly identified as green belt, a battlefield site and as such will remain parkland.
'If the proposals are a success it will also give access to people living in the area to green space.
'With nearly 3000 houses being built in the area over the next decade, I am delighted that this space has been protected.
'This [trotting track] proposal was opposed by local people. In the south of Stirling with 3000 new homes planned, generating at least 6000 new cars, is it so wrong to want green space maintained.
'Any proposal that maybe considered will have no new buildings on the site. It will be forever parkland.
'The Heritage Centre is a major tourist attraction and we should look at every opportunity to improve it and to continue attracting new visitors to Stirling.
'The land is greenfield, I will not support any building of any kind on that land. Hopefully that is clear enough.'
At the full council meeting, council leader Cllr McGarvey had told Cllr McLaughlan he was happy for officers to enter into discussions about the future of the field with the Trust but warned that the sensitivities of the site would have to be taken into account, particularly given the decision by Scottish Ministers.
Cllr McLaughlan, however, suggested the decision could be a positive element in terms of setting parameters, added: 'I've already spoken to the National Trust and to the action group that fought the original decision and opposed it and it would be good if we as a council showed a willingness to support work with the National Trust and to work with local people to open that field in particular up to some green space that people in south Stirling can use.
'I'd hope we can get some support from the council leader for that.'
The trotting track plans had been recommended for conditional approval by the Scottish Government's appeals report before Ministers vetoed the move and called the application in.
Harness racing experts had argued that the track application, lodged by Mr H Muirhead for land west of New Line Road and south of Fairhill Road, was vital to safeguard the future of their sport.
But the proposals also attracted strong objections from those concerned about protection of the battlefield and views from the nearby Battle of Bannockburn Centre and rotunda.
In their decision, Ministers said they disagreed with the reporter's findings 'that the proposed development would not have significant effects on the battlefield or listed buildings and that it accords overall with the development plan.'
The Ministers added: 'The proposed development would introduce new development and urbanisation into one of the few remaining undeveloped parts of the battlefield and it would have a significant adverse effect on the character of the battlefield, its setting and sense of place.'
They also said it would 'detract from the prominence' of listed buildings.
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