New Aberdeen FC stadium vital, manager says

A protest hearing was held on Wednesday morning

Aberdeen FC manager Derek McInnes has said other teams will pull away if the club does not get a new stadium.

He was speaking at a fresh pre-determination hearing into the plans for the £50m stadium and training facilities at Kingsford, near Westhill, which were put on hold in October.

Aberdeen City Council is now due to rule on the plans on 29 January.

The pre-determination stadium hearing was held at Aberdeen Town House from 09:30 to 13:00.

The club manager said: "I believe the club still has so much to achieve. Help me to help Aberdeen."

He warned of the plans not proceeding: "Other teams will pull away from us."

'Reality usually better'

Russell Borthwick, chief executive of Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce which backs the Kingsford plans, told the hearing: "The reality is usually better than the prospect."

Senior Aberdeen City Council planner Gavin Evans confirmed to the hearing that Aberdeenshire Council was maintaining its objection to the Kingsford stadium plans on grounds including loss of green belt land.

Kingswells Community Council secretary Ian Cox said local views on the plans were diverse, but argued it breached green belt policy.

He also highlighted potential travel delays and parking issues.

There was a small protest outside the Town House by the No Kingsford Stadium group.

It has been claimed the stadium and training ground would create more than 400 jobs and bring millions of pounds into the local economy.

However, objectors want Aberdeen FC to look elsewhere.

The club wants to move from Pittodrie