CONSERVATION campaigners have been left “shocked and disappointed” after councillors backed a development on Scotland’s “historic” Bannockburn battlefield site.
The National Trust for Scotland is now urging Scottish Government ministers to intervene and “call in” the decision to grant planning permission for a trotting track for harness racing.
Such a move would give ministers – and not Stirling Council – the final say on the planning application.
The National Trust for Scotland had already objected to the plans, saying the development is “in the vicinity of where Bruce’s army faced off against the vanguard of Edward’s army on the first day of the battle”.
It claimed the trotting track would “fundamentally alter the experience of the site”, on the outskirts of Stirling, for both current and future generations.
The battle, fought in June 1314, famously saw Robert the Bruce and the Scots defeat the English troops led by King Edward II.
With the development having parking for more than 200 cars and access roads, the National Trust for Scotland warned the traffic could result in an “elevated risk of collision on the main road, endangering residents and visitors”.
It added that crowd noise, together with the public address system at the track, would “greatly detract from the visitor experience at a nationally important historic site”.
Stuart Brooks, the director of conservation and policy at the charity, said: “We are shocked and disappointed to see that permission for this development at Bannockburn has been approved.
“As outlined in our objection to the planning application, this development will have a significant adverse impact on the nationally designated Battlefield of Bannockburn, a heritage site of national and international importance and part of our national identity.”
Brooks said the development “will destroy one of the few remaining undeveloped areas of the designated historic battlefield” and would also “see one of the last green wedges disappear from Stirling”.
He continued: “The proposed car parking for over 200 cars, and the accompanying new accesses, have been identified as having an elevated risk of collision on the main road, endangering residents and visitors.
“The amplified public address systems, along with crowd noise, will greatly detract from the visitor experience at a nationally important historic site.
“The development will not only damage internationally significant heritage but will fundamentally alter the experience of the site for current and future generations.
“Following Stirling Council’s approval, we ask that Scottish Government ministers consider our concerns on behalf of the nation and call in the application for proper scrutiny and their own determination.”
A Stirling Council spokesperson said: “The panel carefully considered all information relating to the planning application in making its decision.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “We understand that Stirling Council is minded to approve the proposal for the trotting track.
“The application will be notified to ministers who will decide whether or not to call it in for their own determination.”
