A PARISH council is to press ahead with a highly 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, which is 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.

Councillors met the Football Foundation on Wednesday and are to apply for a substantial grant towards the development within the next few weeks.

At a council meeting on Thursday, clerk of the council Ann Le Druillenec warned there could be problems if work started without holding a public meeting.

Chairman of the meeting, Councillor Brian Anderson, 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."

Councillor 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."

In August, The Northern Echo reported how a row had broken out between villagers and the council.

Residents were worried that accepting a grant from the Football Founda- tion 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, Councillor 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 shortly afterwards.

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