CAMPAIGNERS have welcomed a decision by the Scottish Government to call in “damaging and unsuitable” plans for a horse racing track on the Bannockburn battlefield site.
Scottish Ministers made clear their decision to take control over the planning application in a letter published on the Scottish Government's Planning and Environmental Appeals Division website on Wednesday afternoon.
The letter says ministers noted concerns around the "potential impact on [a] designated battlefield of national significance". Ministers also cited a potential impact on the Bannockburn Rotunda.
The council has said it would be “inappropriate” to comment on the move by the Government.
The decision by Stirling Council’s planning committee last month to approve the plans was met with fury, especially as it took a casting vote from the Tory chair to push the application through.
The National Trust for Scotland – which runs the nearby Battle of Bannockburn visitor centre - said it found it “difficult to believe” the plans were given the green light and was “shocked and disappointed”.
The charity was never approached by the applicant nor initially contacted by Stirling Council as part of the pre-application phase consultation. Instead, the organisation had to be informed by “third parties”.
Stuart Brooks, director of conservation and policy at NTS, said he welcomed ministers’ decision to call in the plans, adding he hoped they will “take heed of the strength of feeling”.
He said: “The National Trust for Scotland is very pleased to hear that Scottish ministers have listened to our request to call in this damaging and unsuitable development proposal for determination.
“Along with many others, including the local community, we strongly believe that this development should not be allowed to proceed and desecrate one of Scotland’s most significant heritage sites. We would welcome collaboration with Stirling Council, who own the land, and the local community to ensure this last vestige of open battlefield is protected for everyone’s benefit.
“Our charity would like to thank our members and everyone else who has so far written to express their concerns. We hope that Scottish ministers will take heed of the strength of feeling here and ensure that this development is refused.”
The intervention by Scottish ministers has also been welcomed by councillors and residents who have campaigned against the development.
Alan Rae, chairman of the Bannockburn Battlefield Residents Group, said: "Our group have been working towards this outcome for a long time, hopefully sanity will prevail.
"It would be fair to say that Stirling Council Planning Department appear to have overlooked a number of major issues, throughout the planning procedure.
"Our group cannot understand why the NTS who have been custodians of the Bannockburn Battle site for 80 years were not notified of the planning application and subsequent planning hearing, as their property is only separated from the field in question by the width of C-class Fairhill Road."
Councillor Gerry McLaughlan added: “This is a welcome decision by the Scottish Government. Local people will be delighted. Hopefully the review will identify how important these fields are to the area.
“I also hope that this will give all sides an opportunity to find a way forward, where the council can work with the National Trust to enhance the visitor experience to a vital part of Stirling and Scotland’s history.
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“But also, it’s important that we work with the trotting community to find an appropriate site for a sport that has a long history in the area.”
There is a history of harness racing in the area. Corbiewood Stadium in Bannockburn had been home to the Scottish harness racing community since 1966 but it was demolished in 2022 to make way for a housing development.
The sport is a form of horse racing where a two-wheeled cart or chariot is pulled by a horse.
SNP group leader on Stirling Council, Scott Farmer, said: “I welcome the decision of Scottish ministers to call in the trotting track application that was in my view a perverse decision by Stirling Council.
“This is a substantial development proposal on green belt in an area of outstanding landscape value. The application would be incongruous in relation to the interpretation of the historic battlefield site and is totally unacceptable.
“There are serious questions that remain as to the veracity of the process and I would call on ministers to reject the application.”
A Stirling Council spokesperson said: “We acknowledge receipt of the notification to call in the application. It would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.”
