HASLEMERE railway station is not only on track to offer 100 more parking spaces this summer, but also to be made more user-friendly for pedestrians and cyclists as part of a major improvement scheme by South West Trains(SWT) in collaboration with the town.

Concerns about road safety for pedestrians and cyclists accessing the station emerged as a key issue in the customer travel survey conducted in January, which attracted the highest response from residents in the shortest time, compared to any similar questionnaire in the country, according to seasoned planning transport consultants Harris Ethical.

The survey’s findings were discussed and validated by community representatives in two well-attended meetings in Haslemere, and a station travel plan, setting out the key improvements needed, is due to be published in a few weeks.

The station travel plan, developed with Haslemere Vision and funding from Surrey County Council, is based not only on the survey, but also on interviews with users as well as highway studies of the main “feeder” roads to the station, carried out with the help of Haslemere Vision volunteers.

SWT will use the travel plan as a guide in its reconfiguration of the station forecourt in June, which will now include traffic calming measures to make the access and exit safer.

Rail users who cycle to the station will see improvements even more quickly in response to the survey findings. A purpose-built cycle hub to increase the number of cycle spaces – from 90 to 190 – will be installed later this month. It will also be equipped with CCTV, tools for basic cycle repairs, and lighting.

In addition to the travel plan, the town will also benefit from the multi-partner collaboration with SWT, in the shape of the recently established Haslemere Community Rail Partnership. The pioneering initiative brings together Surrey County Council, Haslemere Town Council, Haslemere Fringe, Haslemere Society, Haslemere Vision, and the town’s Visitor Information Centre, along with South Downs National Park Authority and the National Trust.

The partnership’s aim is to make the very best use of the station and railway links for the benefit of the town and community. Its first achievement was last month’s opening of an information hub for visitors in a dedicated community shop on the station forecourt.

The town’s county councillor Nikki Barton said: “The station travel plan and the community rail Partnership are the first time so many partners have come together with residents with the shared goal of working with SWT to make the best of Haslemere station.

“Haslemere Community Rail Partnership is now a member of the nationwide association ACoRP, which has been instrumental in securing the franchise obligation for train operators to provide a pot of funding for community rail partnerships going forwards.

“Haslemere station has one of the highest number of users on the SWT network and people are passionate about using the improvement scheme to benefit the town. Everyone acknowledges making improvements on such a small site is challenging, but how it will look and feel really is something the community has had a role in shaping.”

She said SWT must communicate clearly with station users during the disruption caused by the improvement programme, particulary when the car park is closed. The new shop would play a key part in that role.