Land identified as a possible car park for Witham should remain a "green lung" site for the town, it has been claimed.

The land off Bellfield Close had been set aside for an extra classroom for Chipping Hill Infant School before the school moved.

Last week, town councillor Michael Lager suggested it could be used to solve Witham’s parking shortage by accommodating a multi-storey car park.

However Barry Fleet, chairman of the Witham Tree Group, said a survey of the site must be carried out before any “reckless” plans are made.

Mr Fleet said: “That piece of land is a valuable green lung for Witham and it has been allowed to develop naturally as it wasn’t possible for the school to use it at the end of the day.

“There is a whole range of shrubs and trees there that are thriving.

“That area is a quite strong area for slow worm – you can’t just bulldoze the lot to make way for the car park.

“I find it increasingly frustrating that they want to put a car park here."