Campaigners have called for the planning committee chairman to stand aside when AFC Wimbledon proposals for Plough Lane are debated and voted upon, due to her husband's role in the football club's plans.

Claims were made at a Wimbledon Park Residents’ Association (WPRA) meeting on Thursday night that Councillor Andrew Judge may influence the decision of his wife Councillor Linda Kirby, to encourage support for a football stadium to replace Wimbledon Stadium, which houses greyhound racing in Plough Lane.

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Coun Kirby, who represents the Graveney ward for Labour, is the chairman of the Merton Council planning committee, which means she will reside over the committee of other councillors who will decide whether to grant permission for the club to go ahead with its multi-million pound plans.

Coun Judge is council cabinet member for environmental sustainability and regeneration which means he leads on schemes to regenerate the borough.

Married couple councillors Judge and Kirby rubbished the talk, deeming it insulting.

Speaking after the meeting on Thursday, October 8, WPRA chairman Iain Simpson said: "If we would refer to pre-determination, that is what we are talking about.

"It would be sensible if she would stand aside for the meeting.

"Most people would probably agree with that."

He said he filed a complaint about Coun Judge's role some time ago but it was not upheld by the council.

Coun Judge said: "The suggestion that I might use improper influence on any member of the committee is both without grounds and insulting: as anyone who knows the individuals involved could attest."

He said the planning application for the controversial site will be dealt with in the usual independent and impartial manner by the planning committee.

Coun Kirby agreed.

She said: "There will always be nonsense like that.

"I am not joined at the hip to Andrew.

"It is a planning committee, we have to look at the application on planning grounds."

She insisted she was fully independent and deemed the criticism insulting.

Merton Conservatives leader Councillor Oonagh Moulton however agreed with Mr Simpson and said it was a grey area.

Coun Moulton said afterwards that residents had concerns about the pair's relationship in terms of the application.

She said: "In my mind it does not seem necessarily right when it comes to big or controversial applications.

"The cabinet member and chairman of the planning committee could be discussing outcomes over the breakfast table.

"Some residents say they have concerns."

A special committee meeting could be arranged to discuss the hefty proposals, although no date has been set yet.

10 per cent of the 601 homes planned to be built alongside the stadium will be affordable, a quarter of the amount typically required for planning permission.

AFC Wimbledon chief executive Erik Samuelson did not wish to comment on the debate.

Comments on the application from members of the public closed last week and will now be reviewed by the council.