The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Date fixed for latest Dons stadium hearing
Club frustrated by costs and delays
A substantive hearing to decide the future of Aberdeen FC’s new £50million stadium will be held early next year.
The No Kingsford Stadium (NKS) campaign group is challenging the process by which Aberdeen City Council granted permission for the 20,000capacity stadium on the borders of Westhill.
Work has already started on the expansive development after city councillors gave it their backing in January.
However, the NKS campaigners have highlighted a number of concerns over the development’s impact on the environment, local infrastructure and more.
The organisation believes the city council “failed in its duty” to properly determine the application and launched a judicial review which will be considered at the Court of Session.
A procedural hearing will be held on December 19 before the substantive hearing between January 29 and 31.
Kingsford project director Raymond Edgar said last night: “Three consecutive days are required for the substantive hearing and the end of January was the only date which suited all parties involved.
“This unnecessary and time-consuming legal process is frustrating and costly to the club, the council, the region’s reputation and ultimately every taxpayer in Aberdeen.
“It’s important to remember that there was extensive public consultation on our plans and two pre-determination hearings before we secured planning consent. The Scottish Government did not call it in.”
Mr Edgar added: “We will continue with the work on site. As we’ve repeatedly said, this small group of objectors cannot stop the project, they can only delay it.”
As well as the new stadium to replace Pittodrie, Aberdeen FC also plans to build at Kingsford new training and community sports facilities, a heritage museum and dedicated facilities for the Aberdeen FC Community Trust.
Mr Edgar added: “In the unlikely case the court finds an anomaly in the process after the hearings, we will simply rectify and go through planning all over again to get the same result.”
A statement from the NKS group said: “The NKS campaign has the support of thousands of local people – those most affected by the proposed stadium development at Westhill.
“In response to the statement by AFC, it is vital that the north-east is not only seen as a place to do business but also as a location where the rules are followed and communities are protected from poorlyplaced and inconsiderate development without the infrastructure to support it”.
“This small group cannot stop the project, only delay it”