A PARISH council is to press ahead with a controversial sports field development despite objections from villagers.

Heighington Parish Council is determined to build a car park in a sports area off Hall Lane, because cars park on the field, ruining the grass.

It will hold a public meeting but has said it intends to build the car park regardless of the opinions of villagers, many of whom are opposed to the development.

Councillors met the Football Foundation last week and are to apply for a grant towards the project within the next few weeks.

At a council meeting last Thursday clerk Ann Le Druillenec warned there could be problems if work started without holding a public meeting. Coun Brian Anderson, who chaired the meeting, said: "If we want to get the opinion of the village, we will not get the right opinion. However, I have always said we are going to hold a public meeting."

Coun Gerald Lee said: "The parish council needs to make a decision, we need the car park irrespective of what else happens at the public meeting. Whatever happens to the grant, we need this car park."

Earlier this year residents were worried that accepting a grant from the Football Foundation would make the sports field too football-orientated and would tie the village into a complicated 21-year deal.

In April, Darlington Borough Council gave planning permission for the development, which included a pavilion, despite 109 letters of objection.

At Thursday's meeting Coun Eric Thompson said: "The field is getting in a right state, it needs doing as soon as possible."

The council is meeting the appointed field management committee on January 6. It will apply for the grant next month and hopes to hold a public meeting in the same month.

The council bought the field for £24,000, the planned developments are likely to several thousand pounds, of which the car park is roughly £2,800.