Residents are outraged that the crucial meeting to decide if the hotly contested football stadium should be built at Branksome Rec is due to be held during the working day – and in Hamworthy.

Not only is the Borough of Poole special planning committee meeting four miles outside the ward at the port of Poole, it is also being held at 9.30am on a weekday, Wednesday, December 2.

The Borough of Poole said yesterday it would review its decision on the venue and timing after an outcry from residents.

Jacqui Wilson, of Branksome Rec Action Group, said of the plan: “It’s despicable. It is precluding a lot of people from being able to attend this, not just Branksome residents but everybody in Poole.

“It is causing so much public controversy, they should move it somewhere more accessible to Poole people, or preferably to the people it will most affect.”

She said there were suitable large halls within the ward, including at Heatherlands and Rossmore schools, which people could easily get to without having to catch two buses and then walk to the port.

Poole Town Football Club’s proposal to create a £1 million stadium on part of the public open space has caused great controversy in the ward. However, the move received council backing in June.

“It seems a deliberate ploy to hold this meeting at one of the most inaccessible places in Poole as far away from Branksome as possible and at a frankly ridiculous time of day,” said Cllr Phil Eades, of Branksome West.

Natalie Rose, of the Friends of Branksome Rec, described the timing and venue as “diabolical” and “not democratic”.

“They are doing it on purpose,” she said. “I am surprised they are not having it on the Isle of Wight and stopping the ferry for the day. It’s nasty.”