SUPPORTERS and opponents of the proposed new football stadium for Worcester City FC are to have their say at a public inquiry, which kicks off tomorrow.

The hearing, which is being held at the Guildhall, is expected to last for three days.

Land in Nunnery Way has already been earmarked for the stadium in the Local Plan - the blueprint for future development in the city.

But when that decision was made in 1995 plans for the retail units, which will provide the funding needed to build the new ground, was refused.

This latest inquiry will look again at whether the commercial element of the development proposals should be allowed.

An independent planning inspector will hear evidence from groups on both sides of the argument.

Opponents of the scheme who will be speaking at the inquiry include Wychavon District Council, Spetchley Road Residents' Association and the Worcester and Wychavon branches of the Council for the Protection of Rural England.

In March this year, Worcester City councillors backed the need for the enabling development subject to 18 conditions, which included having a high standard of design and keeping the amount of retail space to the minimum needed to fund the scheme.