COUNCILLORS all but voted to reject the planned £13.5m investment in community sports facilities that would have been delivered as a result of the relocation of Dumbarton Football Club to Young’s Farm.

After hearing submissions from both the club, their agents, supporters and the objectors, which lasted almost three hours, the planning committee voted by six votes to three to refer the application to this week’s full council for determination, expressing the provisional view that the application should be refused.

Ian Wilson, representing the majority owners of Dumbarton FC, told the Reporter: “We are bitterly disappointed in the decision taken by the planning committee.”

The decision was reached despite a huge show of support from the Scottish Football Association, the three largest local community clubs, Dumbarton United, Dumbarton Riverside and Renton Craigandro and the council leader Councillor Jonathan McColl.

Mr Wilson went on: “We have lost the first round of this decision making process and hope that the full council acknowledge that the community benefits far outweigh the green belt concerns and will approve planning permission in principle on March 28.

“It is unlikely that my fellow investors will have the appetite to pursue a lengthy appeal to the Scottish Government if the proposals are refused once and for all. This week’s decision is therefore critical in securing a long term future for the club and much needed facilities for the local community.”

Planners Montagu Evans claimed the development of a new community football stadium at Young’s Farm, together with additional playing pitches, would contribute significantly to improving the availability, accessibility and quality of sporting facilities in West Dunbartonshire, influencing local participation in sport The community stadium plans include: a new 4,000 capacity football stadium; related hospitality accommodation and complementary non-football related uses (for example, healthcare/gym/leisure facilities, hotel, and offices); additional playing pitches for community use and the creation of a community sports hub; car and coach parking.

Councillors were told by the planners that the investment in sporting infrastructure would be funded entirely by the sale of 26 acres of land for housing development.

The relocation of Dumbarton FC would then free up the existing stadium site for housing development. This would also allow the delivery of a number of key aspects of the Dumbarton charrette, and in particular the creation of a parkland setting for the Dumbarton Castle and Rock and a contribution towards the waterfront walkway.

These proposals, Montagu Evans said, would be progressed separately if the clubs relocation to Young’s Farm is successful.

Roddy McLeod, lead planner from Montagu Evans, said: “The relocation of Dumbarton Football Club presents a unique opportunity to create firm foundations for a successful football club in Dumbarton, together with the provision of high quality community sports facilities. This is a good project not about residential development.