Highly contentious efforts to build a new relief road on the edge of Perth will have to clear another major hurdle.
The road is the first phase of a huge masterplan for the western edge of the city and has been voted through by councillors despite massive opposition.
Among the objectors are members of the public worried about the effect on the nearby crematorium and St Johnstone Football Club who say it will destroy their £100,000 training pitch.
Supporters say the road, linking the A85 and the A9, will clear the way for a series of major developments at Bertha Park and Inveralmond, creating thousands of new homes and jobs and generating a £500 million boost for the local economy.
St Johnstone have confirmed they will be challenging the local authority’s bid to use compulsory purchase powers to buy up the land needed for the road.
Unless a compromise deal can be struck between the two sides soon, the dispute will need to go to a public inquiry, after which a final decision will be taken by Scottish ministers.
A spokeswoman for the Scottish Government’s Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals said they had still to receive the paperwork for St Johnstone’s appeal, but confirmed a formal inquiry may have to be called.
Andrew Pennycook, of the region’s biggest funeral directors James McEwan and Son, said last night: “A public inquiry would be wonderful, that is exactly where this needs to go.
“It would give all sides the chance to have their say and get everything out in the open.
“There are plenty of other routes which would be available and any one which does not impact on the crematorium would be fine by me.”
He said that land near the Winter Garden would be affected.
The site, now woodlands, was once an open area and families have been scattering loved ones’ ashes there since the crematorium opened in the early 1960s.
St Johnstone chairman Steve Brown said if it went ahead, the new road would make the training pitch redundant.
“We have appealed the compulsory purchase order to the Scottish Government so will have to wait and see what happens there,” he added.
“We are not opposed to the road but there are other options and they have not even been taken into consideration.
“We are not looking for special treatment because there is a lot of local opposition to this from other people affected too, but it’s about not being disadvantaged.”
Perth and Kinross Council leader Ian Miller said: “I fully appreciate the sensitivity of the road skirting the crematorium and can assure everyone concerned that the decision to take this route was arrived at after a great deal of thought and consideration.
“I know that the works will be carried out with the utmost sensitivity, including keeping any soil disturbed within the site.”
He added: “Other options were considered, including using more land from McDiarmid Park. However, planning law requires that we use as little private land as possible.
“Using the embankment running along the edge of the crematorium grounds is the solution that will cause the least disruption, while taking into account the need to use publicly-owned land where possible.”
Three other alternative routes were investigated, but later dismissed by council officers.
Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Liz Smith welcomed an inquiry.
She said: “A substantial number of local people feel that the handling of the proposed new link road to Bertha Park by Perth and Kinross Council has been seriously compromised by the lack of effective consultation which in turn has led to significant concerns about transparency.
“I am not surprised that there will now likely be a need for a public inquiry into the whole affair.
“The insensitivity with which Perth and Kinross Council has tried to bulldoze through this issue has not shown the local authority in good light and I believe has significantly damaged public confidence in the council process.
“Everyone wants to see investment to improve the local transport infrastructure in and around Perth and for the city to realise its true potential.
“However, the wishes of local residents must always be taken into account first and foremost when such decisions are being taken.”