Councillors visit planned Aberdeen FC stadium site

Councillors have visited the proposed site for a new Aberdeen FC stadium and training facilities.

The £50m project would be at Kingsford, close to the Aberdeen bypass, near Westhill.

The visit on Monday afternoon came ahead of a pre-determination hearing at Aberdeen Town House on Wednesday.

That will allow those in support of and against the plans to voice their views, before the expected council decision is made in October.

There were more than 100 protesters at the site visit, while one person could be seen with a "Yes" sign.

Meanwhile, Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce has given its backing to the plans, saying the development is vital to the future of the north east of Scotland economy.

Chamber chief executive Russell Borthwick said: "Football is changing. Clubs that are left behind will face an uncertain future.

"We always speak widely with our membership. Our view is the ambitious project should be backed."

Aberdeen FC chairman Stewart Milne recently warned that the club faces playing European games in Glasgow or Edinburgh in future.

He was talking at a campaign launch to support the new stadium to replace Pittodrie, which he said would soon not meet the criteria to host Uefa games.

However, objectors have called for the club to look elsewhere.