Councillors are meeting this week to fast-track the transfer of allotments which they plan to turn into a car park.

Alderley Edge Parish Council plans to build on Heyes Lane allotments as part of the development of Festival Hall, and move the plots to Lydiat Lane.

Allotment holders have formed an action group to fight the plans.

The council was due to take over the site when services and assets are devolved from Cheshire East next April.

But parish councillor Frank Keegan has said he and coun Mike Williamson are meeting Cabinet member coun Rachel Bailey to ask for the allotments to be transferred sooner.

They will run a public consultation on the plans in the New Year.

He said:  "We are going ahead with the plans and will talk with coun Bailey about how we move forward."

More than 20 allotment holders, neighbours and David Morris, of National Allotments and Leisure Gardens, turned out at last week's parish council meeting to protest.

John Sanderson, of the Action Group, said:  "This should not be rushed through, we need more time to fight the plans."

David Carey said:  "The loss of our allotments would be a travesty."