City councillors are currently meeting to decide whether or not to approve Aberdeen FC’s plans for a £50million stadium at Kingsford.
However, their decision will not grant the final green light for work to begin.
A separate decision by Aberdeenshire Council on a Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) and pedestrian footbridge.
If granted today, the decision could also be “called in” by the Scottish Government for determination also.
Follow our live blog below as it happens.
____________________________________________________________
3.21pm: Voting has commenced with landslide in favour of the Kingsford Stadium winning 32-9
3.15pm: Cllr Donnelly begins his summary quipping “I’m actually a Magpie but I like to see the Dons do well.”
3.09pm: Cllr Boulton sums up her case, complaining councillors who said the city is “closed for business” were the ones who voted against large projects like the AECC.
3.08pm: Cllr Imrie calls it the hardest decision she has had of her time in the council so far and has changed her mind several times. “I believe this is the right thing to do for the city”
3.06pm: Cllr Imrie to speak after Cllr Houghton, who says the “signal we send today is very important” and wants to show “we are turning the ship around” following the oil downturn.
3.02pm: Cllrs Hutcheson and Houghton to speak then it’ll be time for the vote.
2.56pm: Cllr Graham “I don’t think there’s been a debate like this since I’ve been in the council” and says the benefits of moving “significantly outweigh” the negatives.
2.53pm: Cllr Nicol also supporting the application, reiterating the planners’ reasoning for recommending approval.
2.47pm: Stephen Flynn: “I don’t believe it’s a difficult decision. This is a tremendous opportunity for our city to show we want to be progressive, modern and forward-thinking.”
2.45pm: Cllr Copeland: “We have got to prove to the rest of Scotland… that we are open to new ideas, that we listen. This is a £50 million investment – what else are we going to attract afterwards? If we turn this down, what are we going to lose?”
2.41pm: Cllr Macdonald to reject the plans saying she is not “totally convinced” on the travel plans. She adds that the loss of a vibrant, buzzy atmosphere in the city centre on matchdays also contributed to get decision.
2.37pm: Cllr Cormie also backing it. “No matter where this stadium was going to be going, there was always going to be controversy.”
2.35pm: Cllr Duncan in support of the plan, calling it logical and presented in a well-measured fashion. Says we already adjust our routines to account for disruption including Offshore Europe, AECC concerts and matchdays at Pittodrie.
2.29pm: Cllr Sandy Stewart tells the council about his fond memories of Pittodrie in the summer and says he will vote for the stadium. As will Cllr John who says the green belt can not be set in stone and will lead to here community use of the land.
2.21pm: Cllr Delaney says he wants to support it but can’t in all conscience as it will harm the green belt and possibly lead to the merging of Kingswells and Westhill.
2.16pm: Cllr Bell rattling off ten reasons for rejection including traffic concerns and its proximity to the Forties pipeline.
2.10pm: Marie Boulton argues that the application doesn’t fit within the local development plan and “we need to learn” from the two prior stadium applications.
2.09pm: Cllr Donnelly says officers have “bent over backwards” to accommodate and he has sympathy with them but the city can’t afford to turn this offer down.
1:49pm:
Cllr Boulton's amendment is to refuse the application and work with AFC to find a new location. pic.twitter.com/Y7gO3drGzu
— James Wyllie (@JamesWyl) January 29, 2018
1.47pm:
Cllr Donnelly's motion in favour of approving Kingsford is being distributed to councillors. pic.twitter.com/DQ8elYkcGz
— James Wyllie (@JamesWyl) January 29, 2018
1.22pm The countdown clock has reset for another 17 minutes as councillors continue deferring.
1.10pm We’re now having a 20 minute recess while councillors and officers discuss amendments they want to table.
12.57pm: Town House meeting back underway. Officers say councillors just have to consider the planning application and nothing in relation to Cllr Cooke’s earlier question about equality legislation.
12.22pm: Time for a 30 minute break. Councillors to start debating the plans afterwards.
12.20pm: Cllr Mason asks if planners have made too many judgements which could leave them open to legal action. Mr Evans says the process of weighing up parts of it is a normal part of their job.
12.13pm: Officers: Restricting Kingsford to only sporting events would cut its GVA by approx £1.1million annually to £8.4million.
12.05pm: Cllr Boulton: 9pm cut off for training pitches is a concern. Mr Evans: It’s appropriate, there’s a need for a degree of sensitivity given close houses. AFC can come back to council asking for extension at later date.
Cllr Lumsden says 9pm cut off will hamper community use. Mr Evans says AFC offered the 9pm time and the planners considered it reasonable.
12.02pm: Cllr Boulton asks if there will be any safety issues if food vans are present. Mr Evans: Main concerns would be re: noise.
Cllr Boulton also asks about light pollution mitigation. Officer Jamie Coventry says there are environmental health rules but the final details haven’t yet been confirmed.
12pm: Officer: There’s not a lot of detail on the fanzone at the moment. Live/ amplified music etc will need to applied for under an entertainment licence and environmental health consulted.
11.53am: Mr Evans: Pittodrie doesn’t meet some UEFA regulations but not uncommon for dispensations to be granted. UEFA expects venues to be brought up and possibilities dispensations would not be forthcoming in future.
11.36am: Cllr Cooke suggests those on low incomes could be affected by #Kingsford rejection and some matches being played in Dundee – asks if there is a risk of breaking equalities legislation. Lord Provost says they’ll find out.
11.33am: Cllr Macdonald asks if fan zone will be uncovered with live music. Mr Evans: The city council will consider noise impact as part of entertainment licence application.
11.23am: Cllr Yuill: Is it reasonable to assume pedestrians (on the widened footpath) would give way to cyclists? Mr Evans (officer): It’s inevitable there would be conflicts but these would be on limited occasions and is acceptable.
Cllr Yuill: Is there a risk that pedestrians may be forced onto the road/ spill onto the dual carriageway? Mr Wilkie (officer): Cyclists cannot expect to keep going at their usual speed and usual time if events are on. They need to have common sense.
11.17am: Council officers say that, in effect, Aberdeenshire Council has a ‘veto’ regarding Kingsford if it opts to reject plans for a footbridge/ safe road crossing and CPZ.
