DISCUSSIONS over the future of sports facilities on the recreation ground and Britten’s Field in Ilminster are expected to become heated at a public meeting tomorrow (October 14).

Representatives from the Save Britten’s Field group and members of Ilminster Football Club will put forward their views on plans to revamp the Wharf Lane recreation ground at Greenfylde School on Tuesday night, starting at 8pm.

Ilminster town councillors will then have to make recommendations to South Somerset District Council’s Area West Committee before plans are formally approved.

Darren Manley, from Ilminster Football Club, said they hope town councillors will support their plans to move facilities over to Britten’s Field.

He said: “We just hope they back our plans and back our drawings so that we can move over to Britten’s Field.”

But members of opposition group Save Britten’s Field are expected to be present as they received around 900 signatures on a petition against the plans.

Spokesperson for the group, Susan Moore, told a council meeting earlier this year, that they were not opposed to more children’s play area facilities or footpaths and plants but was against the construction of permanent buildings and car parking.

She told the meeting: “The overwhelming response has been that most residents who were aware of the plans were against them – and there were a lot of residents who were not aware of the plans.

“Comments we had were things like: ‘we play rounders, hockey, ride our bike, fly our kite, play games and have a picnic or walk the dog’.

“By building on Britten’s Field, you are limiting and reducing its recreational use, not increasing it.”

Bosses at Ilminster Football Club have been working on the move for more than a decade and say it would improve their facilities, giving them the chance to play in higher football leagues if they gained promotions.

If you want to attend, it starts at Greenfylde School at 8pm.