MAJOR disruption is likely when work starts to create 100 extra spaces at Haslemere station in August, with its main car expected to remain shut until November.

Keen to minimise problems, South West Trains (SWT) is hosting two drop-in sessions in the town on Tuesday, June 14, to alert residents to the works and how they will impact on rail users.

One information and advice session will be held at Haslemere station between 5pm and 7pm, and a second session will take place at The Georgian Hotel from 7.30-9pm.

Construction works will see the introduction of a new single-decked car park on top of the existing main car park. The main car park will be closed during the works, and the smaller car park will remain open – but only to season ticket holders.

A new cycle hub with 190 spaces is currently being built to help ease traffic congestion. SWT starts work on the station forecourt to improve access for public transport, pedestrians and cyclists this month,

SWT head of station property Alistair Wright said: “Haslemere station was used for more than 1.7million journeys from 2014 to 2015.

“This project will provide more than 100 extra car parking spaces and is a crucial part of our multi-million pound programme to provide 1,400 extra car parking spaces across the network.

“There is simply no way of significantly expanding a car park without impacting on the number of spaces available for our passengers but we are working closely with stakeholders and others to keep passengers informed about their travel options while the works are carried out.

“If passengers or residents have any questions or queries, I would urge them to visit the drop-in sessions, pick up a leaflet or visit our website to learn more about what we are doing, the impact it will have and options for car parking during the construction period.”

SWT joined forces with Surrey County Council (SCC), South Downs National Park Authority, Haslemere Town Council, National Trust, Haslemere Society, Haslemere Vision, the Visitor Information Centre and the town’s Fringe festival to form The Haslemere Community Rail Partnership, in March.

A key part of the partnership was the opening of a community hub in an empty shop on the station forecourt, which will act as an information centre during the works.

The county council also teamed up with Haslemere Vision in January to commission a survey of rail users and use the feedback to develop a Haslemere Station Travel Plan to ease transport problems and provide better access.

Proof that station parking is a key issue in the town was dramatically demonstrated by the record 700 responses received within the first week – and a total of more than 1,600 during the consultation period.

Planning consultants HarrisEthical said it was the biggest response in the shortest time it had ever received at any station in the UK it had conducted surveys for.

Since South West Surrey MP Jeremy Hunt’s announcement in January that funding for a single-deck car park had been secured and that it would be constructed in 2016, SWT has been working with the county to look at ways of minimising the disruption caused by the closure of the main station car park for up to three months.

County councillor Nikki Barton said: “the travel plan. identified opportunities for improving access to the station for pedestrians, cyclists, taxi and public transport users, while maintaining movement of cars for drop-off and pick-up.

“SWT and the county council have been working in partnership looking to implement some of these ideas in both the forecourt improvement and during the period of disruption as the car park works proceed.

“I would encourage anyone interested to attend the drop-in sessions.”

The council has appealed for volunteers to join its travel smart team to help rail users while the main car park is closed by advising them about alternative transport options to access the station.

One idea under discussion is travel by a park and ride-style Hoppa bus.

• For more information about the two drop-in sessions log on to www.Hasle merefirst.com – information about the car park closure can be found at www.southwesttrains.co.uk/carparks.

To volunteer for travel smart email:travelsmart@ surreycc.gov.uk.