PAY-and-display meters could soon be heading into Haslemere's only free major car park after proposals to introduce charging were unveiled. However, calls been made for any charges to favour short-stay visitors in a bid to prevent commuters from clogging up the car park. Waverley Borough Council has been given permission by the government to carry out much- needed improvements at the Wey Hill car park as well as to introduce charging. The car park is on common land, meaning that permission from the Secretary of State is needed to make any significant changes. However, on Tuesday the council's corporate overview and scrutiny committee is due to hear that this permission has now been given. "The Secretary of State has given approval to drain, surface, landscape and light the car park and subsequently to introduce charging," the report to the committee said. The report explained that the major refurbishment and resurfacing will cost around £450,000, with the council borrowing cash over a 10-year period to pay for the much-needed work. The car park is the only large one in the town which is free. Despite its condition, the Wey Hill car park is very popular and is filled to capacity on a regular basis. "Wey Hill car park has capacity for 190 cars and is currently operating at capacity - for much of the time occupied in part by day-long rail commuters. The council received no income and there are difficulties in maintaining space for shoppers." However, the car park's popularity makes it a prime candidate for pay and display, although a final decision on this has yet to be taken. The committee's report said that should charging be introduced, it would bring in around £90,000 every year. "This is based on income levels achieved at nearby Weydown Road car park and the fact that Wey Hill is also currently used at near maximum capacity," the report said. The car park's popularity with commuters, taking advantage of the free parking, has given cause for concern in the past from local traders. They have complained that commuter parking has been at the expense of shoppers trying to use the shops and facilities in Wey Hill. Last year, the borough council and the traders struck up a deal whereby the car park at the top of Wey Hill was divided into two areas, with one distinct area for shoppers and the other for commuters. It was agreed that the keys to the car park would be made available to the traders, who would open the barrier in the shoppers' area at around 8-30 am and lock it after 5 pm. Vicky Gordon from In-Training, one of the businesses which holds the keys, told The Herald that the new arrangements were a success and that although not opposed to pay and display being introduced, she wanted it to favour shoppers. "I would hate it to result in commuters clogging up the car park," she said. "I think that if it were made into a short-stay car park where it cost 50 pence to park for a couple of hours, or it was made very expensive for commuters to park there all day, that would be OK." Her calls were echoed by the chairman of the Haslemere Initiative, Melanie Odell. The Initiative helped to broker the deal between traders and the council. "The current arrangements at the car park are working, so any charges should be made in favour of the traders and shoppers," she said. Other factors which will have to be taken into consideration by Waverley are the proposals for the new library and youth centre. Although the scheme is still to go through the planning process, Surrey County Council is looking at building the new facility at the top of the car park to front onto the road. The defunct Wey Centre at the back of the car park would be demolished and turned into car parking to replace that which is lost. In their report to councillors, the officers said that although it would be preferable to carry out the works as soon as possible, it was vital that it should be co-ordinated with the library project. "There are clear environmental and financial benefits in the scheme proceeding as soon as possible," the report said. "However, the work needs to be co-ordinated with proposals relating to the adjacent Wey Centre site owned by Surrey County Council. "The actual timing and final details of the works are therefore uncertain but it is considered desirable for the scheme to be included within the 205\6 capital programme in order that the scheme may proceed as soon as practicable."