TAVISTOCK Town Council's has been asked to think again over its refusal to allow Bedford Square to be used for a car show during carnival week.
The council, which manages bookings of the square, decided the car show would not be an appropriate use of the area.
Now the town's Lions' Club, organisers of the carnival, have asked for a rethink.
Lions president Roger Collins said: 'From our point of view the town council is one of our greatest supporters and we wouldn't want to do anything to embarrass them.'
Mr Collins said if the show did get the go-ahead, it would be made clear it was a Lions event which raised around £600 in sponsorship to be distributed to local charities.
Mr Collins said the Lions did not want the square abused any more than the council did, but there was a difference between shoppers parking on the paved area and an organised event which raised money for charity.
'We also recognise that the town desperately needs some "oomph" at the moment. We would also try to put on a bit of entertainment on the square on the Saturday,' he added.
Lions member John Follett, who organised the car show in the square last year, said he would be 'disappointed' if the same event could not be repeated this summer.
He said: 'It was good for the town, it was good for the Lions, it didn't upset traders, you didn't lose car parking spaces and it ties in nicely with the new registrations.
'Plymouth Mazda, TC Rolt and Rowes all "responded favourably" to the event last year.'
Mr Follett said if the car show was able to go ahead, the Lions would try to include Motability scheme vehicles, to tie in with the Year of the Disabled.
Town clerk Roger Howard said: 'Devon County Council are the owners of the square — we act as agents for it. They have told us to maximise the commercial, community and social use of the square.
'I personally would have no problem with the car show — I would consider it part of community activity.'
The council has agreed the square can be used for a farmers' market and gave approval in principle to a suggestion for a n open air cafe there.
The square was also recently used by the BBC and by a conservation group which was selling water butts.
Col Howard said there was no scale of charges for use of the square — community use of the area was free. The only organisation which had been charged to use it was the farmers' market.
He said the Tavy Water Conservation Project booked to use the square as a community-user — he thought the water butts they were selling were a 'by-product' of the project, not sold for profit.
The BBC used the square because they were filming in the town hall.
'They were parked there for loading and unloading,' said Col Howard.
The Lions' letter requesting a rethink is to be debated by councillors at their meeting on April 24. The final decision will be taken at the council meeting on May 1.
'Any member of the public interested in listening to the debate is welcome to come,' added Col Howard.