A LONELY-looking pavilion in Alderley Edge Park could be turned into a thriving community hub if residents give their blessing.

Parish councillors this week gave their thumbs-up to plans by Susan Holland and the "Friends of Alderley Edge Park" to turn the park’s disused pavilion into a community cafe.

And now it’s the turn of the people of the village to say what they think - and Susan is looking for as much feedback as she can get.

Susan, of Carlisle Street, who pitched her idea to parish councillors at their meeting on Monday (April 6), said: "We need to hear if residents think the pavilion cafe is a good idea.

"I have set up the friends group and website to find out people’s views and gain support, that’s our first job."

Mary Maczkowiak, chairman of Alderley Edge Parish Council, said: "I think it’s a fantastic idea, Susan has my full support."

On a sunny afternoon visit to the park to meet the gang who are making the grand pavilion plans, the few people using the village’s green oasis seemed to be just passing through - and Susan wants to put a stop to that.

Susan, a member of a Parish Plan ideas committee, said: "It’s hard to imagine why on a sunny day like this there is no one enjoying the park!

"We want to bring villagers out to enjoy the wonderful space.

"The pavilion has been sitting here empty for ages but the cafe would be a central point where people of all ages could get together."

A Parish Plan questionnaire 18 months ago found that people thought there was "no sense of community" in Alderley Edge.

Susan added: "The community and young people could be involved in the cafe from the start.

"Then people would want to look after it, you don’t vandalise you own home do you?

"It would bring the community together."

The idea to revamp the pavilion, which sits next to the children’s play park and bowling green, came from a survey done in June 2002 as part of the Macclesfield Borough Council parks strategy.

Residents said that while they liked the "green space and tranquility", facilities in the park were lacking, namely toilets, seating, lighting, bins, signs, a picnic area and wardens.

Susan says the cafe will be just the beginning of a bigger park overhaul.

She added: "The cafe is one part of what’s possible, it will show people that something is happening and will lead on to more bins, lighting, toilets, all the things that people want.

"There would be so many opportunities."

Susan says she has support from Cheshire East’s parks man Roy Lowndes and that she will be looking for funding from the parish council, the Parish Plan, local businesses and the Alderley Edge Institute.

And she has got bypass bods Birse on board to help with the infrastructure.

Dave Hill, project director for Birse, said: "We will send someone to take a look at getting water and power to the site.

"As part of the bypass scheme we see this as a great community initiative."

Mike Dudley-Jones, of the Friends of Alderley Edge Park, has been quizzing young people about the idea.

He said: "I’ve spoken to about 150 kids and they have all said ‘yes’.

"The dream is to make the cafe the spiritual centre of the park."

For information, to support or comment go to www.friendsofalderleyedgepark.org, contact 07710 777515 or email studentlivinguk@aol.com .