SCOTTISH ministers have been urged to throw out plans to build a horse-racing track near the Bannockburn battlefield “now”.
Controversial plans to build a track for harness racing – where horses race while pulling behind a chariot– next to the historic site have been called in by the Scottish Government.
Recommendations by a reporter from the Planning and Environmental Appeals Division were received by ministers on January 16, according to correspondence between the Scottish Government and campaigner Sean Clerkin.
Clerkin said it “beggars belief” the proposals had not been tossed “before now”.
He told The National: “This harness racing track proposal would blight the landscape of the Bannockburn Battlefield Site forever and tarnish our historical and cultural heritage as a nation.
“The Battle of Bannockburn was where the nation state of Scotland was born and for the Scottish Government to wait until March or April before making a decision is unacceptable when all good people in the Yes movement will want the rejection of this development proposal made now.”
The Scottish Government told Clerkin (above) last week a decision would be reached “two to three months” after the reporter’s recommendations had reached ministers.
The proposals, lodged by H Muirhead of the Scottish Harness Racing Club, would see a harness racing track as well as single-storey building that would house toilets, a bar and provide hot takeaway food on a 8.7 hectares site.
It is currently greenfield land which sits opposite the National Trust for Scotland’s (NTS) Battle of Bannockburn visitor centre.
The plans were approved by Stirling Council in July, sparking major backlash, including from the NTS which said they were “wrong”.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The independent reporter has made their recommendation to ministers, who will consider the findings before making a final decision on this planning application in due course.”
