Stirling councillors have unanimously backed a bid to bring T in the Park to fields at the foot of the city’s castle next year.
The festival’s organisers have already been told by the Health and Safety Executive that 2014 is the last year it should be held at Balado because an oil pipeline runs under the site.
A report by the safety watchdog warns that an accident could cause “a large number of casualties” and result in people receiving “a dangerous dose of thermal radiation”.
That being the case, SNP councillors tabled a motion calling on all parties to support an audacious bid to poach T in the Park from Perth and Kinross Council.
The motion was carried unanimously after the addition of an amendment which instructs the finance and economy convener to write to organisers DF Concerts and “open a dialogue”.
Councillor Steven Paterson, who moved the motion, said: “I am pleased that all parties on Stirling Council backed my call to highlight Stirling as an ideal alternative venue for T in the Park, should that fantastic event require to be relocated in future.
“The spectacular and iconic Stirling backdrop makes it an obvious location for large-scale events that would significantly boost the local economy.
“Stirling is very much open for business and I hope that, by presenting this motion in the way I did, the organisers of big events such as T in the Park will give Stirling serious consideration as a location in future, should the opportunity arise.”
Stirling Council leader Johanna Boyd said: “We already have a great track record of hostingsuccessful events, such as last year’s internationally-acclaimed Big Noise Concert, and our ward-winning Stirling’s Hogmanay, so it’s clear that Stirling has the potential to attract a variety of large-scale events.”
She added: “We will be writing to the T in the Park’s organisers to express our willingness to discuss possibilities with them, should the event need to be relocated, however we do not consider the events ground to be the right site.”