HASLEMERE Fringe Festival chairman Ken Griffiths and town county councillor Nikki Barton, launched a new community hub at Haslemere Station last Tuesday.

The region’s train operator and several community groups have joined forces with Haslemere Fringe and Surrey County Council to form the Haslemere Community Rail Partnership.

South Downs National Park Authority, Haslemere Town Council, National Trust, Haslemere Society, Haslemere Vision and the town’s Tourist Information Centre have made a financial contribution to the partnership and South West Trains have agreed to match fund the contributions made by each of the partners in the group.

Haslemere station manager David Walthew and platform staff member Carole Ayres joined the celebrations to launch the opening of the new station’s new Information Point.

Group members have worked hard over the last five weeks to convert the empty retail unit on the concourse into an enticing “gateway” facility, to promote events, community assets, local businesses and the surrounding countryside.

Mr Griffiths said: “Haslemere station is the main transport hub in the town, used by 1.3 million passengers a year. Any community groups that would like to promote their group or activity from this facility at the station will be welcome. You can use posters on the noticeboards, or have your event or organisation promoted via a rolling TV screen which can be seen 24 hours a day.

“I would like to thank Haslemere building firm Red Rock, who worked with us to refit the shop.”

Mrs Barton added: “It is hoped by working together as a community and not as individual organisations, we can quickly cut through red tape and improve the look and feel of the station, which of course is central to many people’s lives.

“We can’t improve the running of the trains, but what we can do, is ensure the experience of using the station is the best that can be achieved.”