Residents are calling for Stockport County to think again about the football club’s £50m plans to expand its stadium – with fears a new car park could intrude on woodland and wildlife.
The League One outfit want to add an extra 7,400 seats to Edgeley Park, which would increase its capacity to more than 18,000.
But a conservation group has objected to a surface car park being built on what is currently a large area of woodland behind the Popular Side of the ground.
The club has said the plans will ease pressure on car parking around the ground while ensuring the number of spaces meets demand.
Stockport County’s expansion plans involve building two new stands and expanding the existing main stand.
The new car park, on the south side of the stadium, would be used by staff, players and some hospitality clients on match days.
The land behind the south stand was previously developed but it has been left alone for decades and currently lies within the Alexandra Park Conservation Area.
Julia Blundell from the Edgeley Wildlife Reserve Group, said: “This rewilded land is home to wildflowers, insects, birds and butterflies – its just so beautiful.
“We are pro-County but we believe the car parking could be provided elsewhere.”
Stockport County returned to the Football League in 2022 and the average attendance for matches was more than 9,000 last season.
The side are now want to set their sites on the Championship and have said the stadium expansion is critical to support that ambition.
Dave Marchbank, chairman of Stockport County Supporters Co-Operative, said the expansion is vital for the town.
“We’ve had so many gates of over 10,000. We’re selling out a lot of games and tickets are now quite hard to get,” he said.
“If we want to compete in the Championship we need that bigger ground.”
Rob Eyre, 53, from the Edgeley Wildlife Reserve Group, said: “I’d be heartbroken if this land was lost because I hear the birds every morning and the thought that the animals will have nowhere left to live is soul destroying.
“Lets have an improved football stadium but with car parking elsewhere.”
Stockport County has previously outlined its position.
In a statement, it said: “We will redevelop the areas behind the east and south stands to provide level-access pedestrian routes around the ground, as well as a mix of new car parking and new landscaping features.
“We aim to give the external areas at Edgeley Park a softer and greener feel, while also ensuring these spaces meet our operational requirements.”
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