Planning officials had recommended the granting of the application by CALA and West Rugby club when it came before committee on Tuesday, but councillors were not like-minded — with the exception of Councillor Una Walker.

The application for land near Murray Park in fact falls in the Bishopbriggs North and Torrance ward of which Councillor Walker is one of the elected members.

Fellow councillor for the ward, Anne McNair, moved for the hearing saying: "Given the public interest in the application I would like to request a public hearing."

Councillor Walker then said: "We have looked at this site today and are aware it's for a sports club working well in Milngavie with young children, but they can't accommodate them and I would move we grant."

Milngavie Councillor Eric Gotts said since the application was of major public interest he would second Councillor McNair's request for a public hearing.

Of Councillor Walker's suggestion to grant, independent Councillor Charles Kennedy said that while he applauded the work of the club, the basis on which Councillor Walker was moving was "a very dangerous road to go down".

He added: "I don't think the number of people who would use the grounds should be the biggest consideration — it would be ignoring the wishes of those in the community who are against it. I believe all parties should be heard."

Councillors expressed concern over the scale of green belt land involved in the application but East Dunbartonshire Council leader Rhondda Geekie said this was a "red herring" as the present West ground is on green belt land.

She added: "If there was as much public concern as we are being told over this we would have a bigger list of objectors."

It was pointed out to the leader that three letters of objection were from the three community councils and therefore represented the wider community.

In addition, councillors reported having received high numbers of e-mails registering objection, while conversely Councillor Walker said she had many e-mails from youngsters asking her to support the application.

Given the trend of people registering their views by e-mail, officials were asked to give advice in the near future at what point electronic representation should be allowed and when it should be discounted.

There was consensus that the public hearing should be in Milngavie Town Hall and it was noted this would be after the summer recess, although no firm date was set.

Milngavie Councillor Jim Gibbons was unable to vote due to his publicly stated opposition to the scale of the plans but in a statement said: "The development falls down on many criteria — transport, accessibility, safety, potential flooding, urban encroachment and the environment. There are a lot of "maybe's" in the planners' report."