Westhill and District councillor Iris Walker has lodged the results of an online survey to Aberdeen Football Club ahead of the closing date for comments at the informal stage of a public consultation. The Elrick-based councillor carried out the online survey to gauge the initial views of local residents on the proposed stadium and training facility at Kingsford, near Westhill. The survey returned over 500 responses from local residents showing a near 60-40 split in opinion. Councillor Walker said “Although it will be Aberdeen City councillors who have the final say in any formal application, I wanted to make sure that I captured a range of views so that local councillors could represent those views if asked to do so at a later stage.”

Concerns raised from objectors include increased traffic and parking in local streets and public spaces, insufficient road infrastructure, knock-on costs to Aberdeenshire Council, proximity to oil and gas pipelines, noise and light pollution, as well as loss of greenbelt and loss of a boundary between City and Shire.

Those who would welcome the new stadium near Westhill said that the proposal would bring jobs to the area and much-needed sports facilities, local hotels and businesses would get a boost and it would put Westhill on the map.

Councillor Walker added “of course we have not seen the detailed plans yet so it is really important that residents make their views known once they do study the final proposals by making written representations to Aberdeen City at the appropriate time once the formal application is lodged.