A new rugby stadium with capacity for 5,000 spectators "will be built in north Edinburgh after city planners approved the contentious proposals," according to Rory Reynolds of the SCOTSMAN.
Edinburgh Academicals, the second-oldest club in the U.K., will build the £8M ($12M) facility on the site of the first ever int'l rugby match in Stockbridge early next year. The bid "had been staunchly opposed by the local community and businesses who fear the size of the structure and the nine new retail units attached will radically alter the area." Stockbridge and Inverleith Community Council "had collected about 3,300 signatures against the plans in recent months and said 34 traders opposed the move." The stadium "will contain conference facilities and a rugby museum, backed by former Scotland internationals Andy Irvine and Scott Hastings, along with VisitScotland" (SCOTSMAN, 8/1). In London, Hamish Macdonell wrote the council "spent more than three hours listening to arguments for and against the development." After the decision was announced, some of the opposition said they "were considering taking the decision to a judicial review" (LONDON TIMES, 8/2).
