Andy Murray reacts after plans for Dunblane 'legacy' tennis centre axed

Andy Murray has reacted sarcastically to the news that plans for tennis centre in his hometown of Dunblane have been scrapped.

The £20m project, led by his mother Judy Murray, aimed to build a community multi-sport facility at Park of Keir to mark the tennis legacy of the Murray family. The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) pledged £5m to the project, which included a luxury hotel and a major housing development, but it met opposition from campaigners who said it should not be built on green belt land.

And Murray, who retired this month after being knocked out of the Olympics, has taken to social media to react. He reposted a news story on the centre no longer going ahead with "What a surprise" and the rolling eyes emoji.

Judy Murray's charity, the Murray Play Foundation, said "with deep regret and sorrow" it would now not go ahead. A foundation spokesperson said: “Over 12 years, Judy has invested significant time and encountered indifference and opposition for much of that period. However, she and her team persevered until several factors conspired to leave the project unviable in its current form. We no longer plan to seek a detailed planning consent on the site at Park of Keir."

Significant increases in construction and energy costs, the prolonged planning process and ongoing discussions with governing bodies were cited as reasons for abandoning the project.