NEW ways to put Haslemere on the map have opened up as part of a ‘station adoption’ community rail partnership.

The Information Hub at Haslemere station, manned by volunteers, is a not-for-profit partnership created with support and funding from South Western Railway as part of a national initiative to help areas promote themselves as tourist destinations.

The town partnership is now celebrating the addition of new members Witley and Milford stations.

The first steering group meeting of the expanded partnership – Surrey Hills to South Downs — was held at Haslemere Town Hall last Thursday.

Representatives from Surrey County Council, South Downs National Park and Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty also took part to agree an action plan and to prepare bids to fund specific projects.

Steering group chairman Haslemere county councillor Nikki Barton said: “For Haslemere, projects include the Try the Train event with St Bart’s primary school.

“Following one of the priorities of project partner Haslemere Vision, we want to encourage walking and cycling to the station and install real-time bus information.

“With Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and South Downs National Park Authority, we are working on a pilot weekend Hoppa service linking Haslemere station to key sites, such as the Devil’s Punch Bowl, to encourage more visitors.”

Witley Parish Council clerk Sarah Nash said: “We look forward to working with partners to upgrade the facilities at Milford and Witley stations.

“As a millennium project, we produced a book of walks that are now online. We hope, through the community rail partnership, these can be adapted to link with other walks, promoting walking routes between the stations.”

* Haslemere volunteers would be welcomed. For more details, visit haslemereinfohub.co.uk.