An unused field could prove the key to controversial plans to build a car park on allotments in Alderley Edge.

Alderley Edge parish council wants to install the car park on allotment land off Heyes Lane, beside the Festival Hall.

Under the controversial scheme, which allotment holders are objecting to, the parish council is committed to creating another allotment site elsewhere before the proposed car park is built.

The current proposal is to do this on land owned by Alderley Edge School for Girls (AESG) at Lydiat Lane, which must in turn find a replacement field to use for sports.

And Coun Frank Keegan, who leads the plan for the parish council, believes that land off Wilmslow Road fits the bill for the school.

Cheshire East council bought the land when planning for the bypass to be built but now it is surplus to requirements.

Coun Keegan wants CEC to lease the field to the parish council, which would lease it to the school.

He said there would be a ‘strong community benefit’, which could include allowing Alderley United Junior FC to use part of the site.

Coun Keegan said: “On the single site there will be sports facilities for the girls school available to the public and football fields for the 300 players at Alderley United.”

Tatton MP George Osborne is backing the plans for new sports facilities for Alderley Edge School for Girls.

He said: “I’m very supportive of the plans. Alderley Edge School for Girls have to improve their sports facilities, including how these facilities are available to the wider public.

Sue Goff, headteacher at AESG, said she hoped the plan would happen soon.

She said: “We are particularly pleased to have the support of the chancellor who came to visit the school to discuss our sports facilities some time ago.”

John Sanderson, from Alderley Allotments and Gardens Society, said a ‘proper debate’ was needed on the plans, adding: “This should be presented to the whole village at a public consultation with opportunities for individuals to question the principles as well as the detail.”

A CEC spokesman said that the council was due to start marketing the plots soon.