St Johnstone bosses have failed to delay an inquiry into a highly controversial road plan that they claim could jeopardise the club’s future.
The Saints are battling to block a major new road near their McDiarmid Park home that Perth and Kinross Council believes is necessary to unlock development land to the north of the city, creating jobs and thousands of new homes.
The club argues that the relief road will result in the loss of a training pitch that players have been using for nearly 20 years. The local authority which is using compulsory purchase powers to buy up the land now claims the pitch is being used illegally.
Scottish ministers have called a public inquiry to determine if the compulsory purchase order can proceed.
St Johnstone owner Geoff Brown had hoped to the postpone the inquiry to allow time to process a “certificate of lawfulness” application, which he believes will show the training pitch has valid consent.
But his plea to halt proceedings was rejected by appeals reporter Michael Cunliffe, who will lead the inquiry.
At a meeting between representatives from St Johnstone FC, Perth and Kinross Council and other objectors, Mr Cunliffe said it would be unfair to stall proceedings.
Club spokesman Dennis Munro said: “The impact of the road on the training pitch will, in our view, render it effectively useless.
“The council have asserted, rather late in the day, that the use of the training pitch is unlawful. We strongly dispute that and to establish its lawfulness we have applied for a certificate.
“That application is presently with the council and it is our view that the inquiry should be sisted until the application is processed because the outcome will have a bearing on the weight of our objection.”
He said: “It is such an important issued that the inquiry should be delayed until this is resolved.”
Mr Cunliffe said: “There are other parties involved and my inclination would be not to hold up proceedings because of this one issue.”
The public inquiry is due to be held in Perth on November 9 and is expected to run for three to five days.
A council spokeswoman said the authority was against suggestions that the inquest should be held at McDiarmid Park. A venue will be decided nearer the time. The inquiry will also hear evidence from other objectors including the Pilkington Trust, the Stewart Milne Group and the trustees of Robert Reid.
The road project, which will link the city to housing projects at Inveralmond and Bertha Park, already has planning permission, despite scores of objections about its potential impact on Perth Crematorium.