A resident has made a plea to town leaders not to let Cheshire East Council drive through decisions if the Wilmslow redevelopment goes ahead.

Clive Bassil, of Edgeway, who has lived in Wilmslow for 25 years, also asked councillors at their last meeting to protect Rectory Fields and the library.

Wilmslow Town Council is working with Cheshire East on plans for a multi-million pound town centre ‘lifestyle hub’ to include a theatre.

Councillors have set up a working group and agreed to pay £15,000 for a viability study.

The group has now held its first meeting and is drawing up a list of people to be consulted in the new year.

At the meeting, Mr Bassil said: "The proposals anticipate that Rectory Fields will be incorporated as car parking or retail.

"This area was inherited by the residents of Wilmslow and it’s our duty to protect this green space for future generations.

"As I understand it the plans include demolishing the library and incorporating it into the Lifestyle building on the North school playing fields.

"I suggest if we design a new town centre then a library should be at the centre.

"Removing it from its present location to one quarter of a mile out of the town centre will cause a significant drop in usage and increased car usage by those determined to get there.

"Elderly people and young mothers with pushchairs may be dissuaded from visiting.

"I ask councillors to resist anything that results in Rectory Fields being lost and the library being moved, no matter what effort it takes."

Mr Bassil says he hopes people get involved in the consultation. He said: "We need to have our say so the redevelopment is right for the people of Wilmslow.

"My final plea is that Wilmslow Town Council defends the interests of residents and doesn’t fall into the slipstream of the wishes of Cheshire East council."

Coun Jim Crockatt, chairman of Wilmslow Town Council, said: "We will consider Mr Bassil’s comments very seriously just as we will listen to suggestions from other residents in Wilmslow.

"I can understand he would like to protect Rectory Fields as a green space but we will need to consider whether the green space or redevelopment is more important for the town.

"I can see that the library has served the people of Wilmslow well for a long time where it is and we would have to think carefully about moving it, there would have to be real benefit to doing that.

"This will all be thrashed out in the consultation."