Families evicted to make way for staff at Andy Murray's new luxury hotel
Residents who live in cottages on the grounds of Andy Murray's new luxury hotel are appealing to the tennis star for help - after being told by their landlords they must leave to make way for staff quarters at the five-star establishment.
The tenants live in a property called The Square, cottages set 100 yards away from the plush Cromlix House Hotel, which Andy Murray bought for almost £2 million back in January 2013.
The families that live there rent the properties from brothers Henry and Edward Eden, who sold the hotel to Andy.
Eviction notices were sent to three separate tenancies at the property at the weekend.
Multiple Sclerosis sufferer Kathleen Brown, who has a nine-year-old daughter Holly, was one of the people who received a letter.
Speaking to the Daily Record, she said the situation was a "nightmare", adding: "We are being evicted from our homes here at the Square to make way for staff quarters for Andy Murray's hotel.
"We have been given 40 days to find somewhere else to live. When I read the eviction letter, I was devastated and burst into tears.
"I don't think Andy Murray will know what is happening here at his flagship hotel.
"When he bought the hotel, he said he was a local lad and he was delighted to feed money back into the community. But will he know that families are being flung out into the streets for his new hotel?
"I hope he can step in to sort this out. We now have to find a new home and Holly will have to change school."
According to the Daily Mail, Kathleen added: "From day one we were told that if the Murrays bought The Square then our tenancies would remain and everything would stay the same except the Murrays would be our landlord."
Another tenant, Laura Campbell, said: "We all got behind Andy Murray because he is such a legend in the local community. I just hope he can get behind us now."
A statement on behalf of Henry and Edward Eden, issued by the hotel's media advisers, read: "As owners of The Square near Dunblane, we can confirm we have served notice on three of our tenants. This is because the property is being sold and is completely within the terms of their short-term tenancy agreements.
"The tenants were first made aware that their agreements may be terminated six months ago."
The 14-bedroom Cromlix House Hotel was the wedding venue for Andy's brother, former Wimbledon doubles champion Jamie, in 2010, and is only a few miles from Dunblane, Stirlinghshire, where the siblings grew up.
Murray has already employed the services of Michelin-starred chef Albert Roux to oversee the restaurant.
The Victorian mansion sits on a 2,000 acre estate, and is undergoing refurbishment before opening on 1 April.
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