TOWN councillors have vowed to fight to save Ilminster's green lung' from being turned into a car park.

South Somerset District Council has put forward a suggestion about using part of the Recreation Ground - which is owned by Ilminster Town Council - for more parking.

Town council clerk Steve Fisher told councillors last week that the district authority wants to provide up to an extra 107 car parking spaces in the area by 2011 because of the envisaged growth in housing.

Mr Fisher said: "They have looked at a number of sites, but the only obvious one for them is land at Orchard Vale next to the play area where the fair goes each year."

But Deputy Mayor, Cllr Margaret Excell, stormed: "It would be the worst thing we ever did as a town council if we sold or gave away a part of the recreation ground for parking.

"The recreation ground is the envy of many other towns in Somerset and we must protect this area. I will fight as hard as I can to retain this area and I wouldn't give the district council's approach any credence."

And the Mayor, Cllr Carol Goodall, added: "It has been said before that the recreation ground is the green lung' of Ilminster."

But Cllr Stuart Shepherd said: "I don't think this idea should be turned out of hand. The area they are looking at is the only part of the recreation ground that isn't extensively used."

Cllr Kim Turner, chairman of the district council's Area West committee, said that she knew the authority was investigating parking provision in the town.

But she added: "I have monitored the area where they want to put parking and it has been packed recently during the good weather with people sitting out in deckchairs and having picnics.

"Ilminster has grown over the last few years and that is the only open space we have. I would be disappointed if we accepted any parking on that area."

Councillors turned down the approach from the district council, but urged officers to look for other possible car parking sites in the town.