AXBRIDGE councillors may have to get their cheque books out and buy a car park, as a drastic measure to avoid losing the facility.

AXBRIDGE councillors may have to get their cheque books out and buy a car park, as a drastic measure to avoid losing the facility.

The council held an emergency meeting on Wednesday as the Somerset Mercury went to press, to discuss either buying Meadow Street car park or offering to lease it from Sedgemoor District Council.

The news comes after the district authority revealed a funding gap of £1.8million and the car park was named as one of the assets that could be sold to raise money.

Mayor Mike Taylor has warned that losing the car park could have a huge affect on tourism and business to the medieval town.

He said: "If we lose the car park it will discourage people from visiting the town. Tourists that come here obviously need somewhere to park and there are plenty of businesses to attract them to Axbridge.

"We set up a Chamber of Commerce and we are quite active in Somerset Market Towns with the farmers market.

"We are trying to keep businesses happy but something like this is not going to help."

Cllr Taylor gave a passionate speech to district councillors, pleading with them to reconsider selling the car park, although a final decision will not be made until next month.

Residents concerned about the closure have been writing on the Mercury website. Jean, Mark and Anna Yardley of Cheddar Road, wrote: We want to support the action committee fighting to stop the sale of this vital need to the population of Axbridge."

Axbridge Action Group has also joined the protest and handed a 350-name petition against the sale to Sedgemoor District Council.

The town council met last night in the Town Hall to consider the recommendation from its Highways Advisory Committee to investigate purchasing or leasing the car park.

* To keep up to date on Meadow Street car park and tell us your views log on to www.thewestonmercury.co.uk