PLANS for a new football stadium in Worcester which fans hoped could 'bring City home' have been thrown out.

In front of a packed public gallery this afternoon, Worcester City Council's planning committee rubber-stamped its decision to refuse permission for the 4,400 Worcester City Football Club stadium at Perdiswell Park.

The committee had initially voted that it was 'minded to refuse' the plans at its previous meeting last month, with that decision coming down to a casting vote.

And committee chairman Cllr Chris Mitchell again had to use his casting vote today after the vote came back tied.

The Perdiswell plans were first drawn up as far back as April 2014, with the final submitted application featuring plans for tiered stands, a supporters bar, a conference room, directors lounge and club shop.

Ahead of the planning meeting at the Guildhall yesterday afternoon, officers were recommending committee members changed their mind and approved the application – warning that if any appeal was not successfully defended, the council would face paying costs.

During public speaking, Cllr Joy Squires said 800 supporters were at Monday's friendly held at Claines Lane, showing the appetite for football in the city.

"A football ground at this location will be a strong community activity," she said.

She added the "tangible gains" outweighed the loss of a green space.

But Cllr Gareth Jones said the officers' report was biased in favour of the scheme, stating: "It is a crafty move to say it is a community facility – it is not a community facility."

He added planning officer's opinion is "just an opinion at the end of the day".

Tensions ran high at times as committee members debated the scheme.

Cllr Pat Agar said: "I think regretfully this decision has become politicised. We must put those concerns aside.

"The community benefit here is greater than what is lost."

Cllr Agar added she was "pretty sure" an inspector would grant it on an appeal, which would lead to a "tremendous" waste of public money.

But Cllr Alan Amos said nothing had changed from the last meeting when it was refused, adding he had listened to and valued the concerns of residents who live near the proposed site and who would be affected.

When chairman Cllr Mitchell spoke, at one point he was interrupted and there were heated exchanges.

But he continued, saying: "In my opinion – and everyone will have a different opinion because it is not clear cut – the report weighs too heavily on the positives."

He added the scheme would have a "significant and demonstrable" negative impact.

The vote came out tied with five votes each way, with the chairman again having to use his casting vote.

After the vote there was applause, but also clear anger from supporters who had pinned their hopes on this application being a route to bringing the football club permanently back to the city it has not played in since 2013.

Supporters had vowed to fight a refusal before the decision, so an appeal looks likely.