The bid to build a world class Stadium for Cornwall passed a major hurdle this afternoon after Cornwall Council voted to back it with £3 million of public funding.

The decision came at the end of a debate involving all 123 councillors, which lasted more than two and a half hours.

The decision was by no means unanimous, ending up with 69 votes in favour, with 41 against and seven abstentions.

It means the council has pledged to provide £3million to the project - but only once all other funding is in place.

The partners behind the stadium – Cornish Pirates, Truro City FC and Truro and Penwith College - have themselves vowed to put in £2m each for what will be a £14m project.

Former Prime Minister David Cameron had previously vowed that the government would provide help if funding was an issue for the Stadium for Cornwall and Cornwall Council has made its decision today on the understanding that the money will only be handed over if central government follows with its own £3m. It has also been clear that this is the maximum amount it will give.

Ongoing negotiations with the current government are being led by Cornwall Conservative MPs Sarah Newton and Derek Thomas and also have the support of the county’s four other Tory MPs.

As for the other £2m, the partners stated at a briefing to councillors last week that they would be looking to raise that in a crowdfunding campaign. However if that did not reach the target then the Pirates and Truro College have stated that they will make up the shortfall.

At the start of the debate, cabinet member Julian German told members that the money from Cornwall Council would come from capital funding that could not be used for revenue expenditure, such as repairs and maintenance.

Dick Cole, leader of Mebyon Kernow, described the stadium as a “no brainer” and said it was a “scandal” Cornwall didn't have such sporting facilities, with councillor John Wood for Roche urging councillors: “Let your hearts rule your heads and let’s have a Stadium for Cornwall.”

However, councillor John Fitter for St Mawgan and Colan, said local people in his area were overwhelmingly against the council giving £3m to stadium. He had a vision for Cornwall but it was a "vision for all in Cornwall and not just the privileged few."

The overall positive vote at County Hall has resulted in jubilation in many quarters.

The Stadium For Cornwall team said in the moments afterwards: "Massive thanks to every individual who helped with our campaign and the thousands who pledged their backing in recent weeks.

"This isn't the end. It's just the beginning."

As the project stands the funding will be for the first phase of the stadium, which would see a 6,000-capacity stadium built, complete with a fitness centre, business and conference centre, kitchen training facilities and full facilities for matchdays.

The west stand, which is part of the first phase, would have 4,200 seats with the remaining capacity in standing areas around the 4G pitch.

The stadium partners have indicated that they want to start work as soon as possible, with a view to having the stadium ready for the start of the 2019/20 season.

A 20,000-signature petition had been handed into the council in support of the stadium, which has been debated for more than ten years.

Overall though the decision has prompted mixed feelings around Cornwall - including on the Packet Newspapers Facebook page.

It has received much support, with Ryan Pellow writing: "Yes [to] a stadium where we can watch a Cornish rugby team in the premier league to showcase how good Cornish rugby is and that we have the best fans too, and have live music in there."

Hailey Houlden-Smith agreed: "It's about time we put Cornwall on the map and moved with the times. We can have all sorts of events, entertainment - the jobs and future is endless. Come on Cornwall, stop chewing your blade of grass and move with the times."

Others have been less keen, describing it as "a waste of public money."

Glenis Willis wrote: "What a waste of public money. Any stadium of this size should be built somewhere else - Bodmin, Launceston or similar. There is already too much congestion around Truro.

"I don't believe it could be built for £14 million, which would mean the council putting more of our money into it and it would still become a white elephant."

And Pam Kitchen wrote: "Our money could be put to much better use than a stadium for use by far less than half the population of Cornwall."

In a short poll carried out on thepacket.co.uk, 73 per cent of the vote was in favour of a stadium.