HASLEMERE Town Council reaffirmed its support “in principle” to building a multi-storey station car park when it met last month.

Members gave their full backing to a report by fellow councillors David Round, Ged Hall and William King, outlining the town council’s position on a range of issues to do with parking.

But the plan was not supported by resident Maria Mateo, who unsuccessfully stood as an Independent candidate on the town council in this year’s elections.

She wrote to the council to object the report failed to take into account the lack of support for the scheme voiced by those responding to Haslemere Vision’s 2014 transport consultation.

The parking problem around Haslemere station could be solved, 88 per cent of those responding thought, by providing alternative transport for commuters, and 70 per cent advocated using community funds to subsidise such a scheme.

Clarifying the council’s stance on a multi-storey car park for railway users, the report stated: “Haslemere Town Council has pressed for this for over 10 years, and is of the view the case for the provision of such a car park is overwhelmingly clear, and supports the initiatives by the Department for Transport and our local MP to expedite provision forthwith.

“It would greatly improve the residential environment close to the station where residents parking could then be accommodated more easily and cheaply.”

The report urged plans should proceed “as soon as possible” for a multi-storey car park at the station, given it was the only solution to the town’s parking problems that could get funding.

South West Trains announced in April it had sufficient funds to build a “simple” car park at the station and discussions were ongoing on how best to proceed with a working group of representatives of the Transport Minister, Network Rail, South West Trains, Surrey County, Waverley Borough and Haslemere Town councils.

Responding to Mrs Mateo’s objection, councillor Simon Drake said when he was out canvassing during the elections, he “received nothing but waves and waves of support” for more parking at the station.

Fellow councillors agreed they had got similar feedback and were told by residents in their wards a multi-storey car park was needed “as soon as possible”.

Chairman Melanie Odell said: “While our general feeling is one of support, I am keen to look at other methods of transport as well. I would certainly be interested in how to get people to and from the station.”

Speaking in the public questions slot, Haslemere resident Miles Weston, who also unsuccessfully stood as an Independent candidate in the town council elections, said: “Haslemere Town Council’s view is the case for a multi-storey car park is overwhelmingly clear.

“I got feedback it is not overwhelmingly clear.

“Would the town council jointly prepare a summary of the evidence that it is overwhelmingly clear?”.

Councillor Libby Piper responded the town council should provide supporting evidence to make it “a level playing field”.

It was agreed Haslemere Vision should be asked how many responses it had received in support of providing an alternative transport scheme to and from the station, which is also used by many commuters from Liphook and surrounding villages in West Sussex.

The report also stated the council opposed any increase in parking charges or extension of charging times by Waverley and Surrey County Council.

It supported a Haslemere Chamber of Trade initiative to get free or low-cost parking for local workers in town car parks, and opposed any plans Surrey County Council might have to charge for on-street parking in short-term spaces.

The town council will request any proposed increase in parking charges by Waverley Borough Council will be subject to a review “partly because the ratio business climate has deteriorated since the charges were laid down pre-2008 and partly because parking costs in towns near Haslemere in West Sussex and Hampshire are far less”.

lVisitors using Waverley Borough car parks will get an extra half-hour free from 2016, it has been agreed.

But car parking charges in villages administered by Chichester District Council are going up next year as the amount of time shoppers can stay for free in some Midhurst car parks is being reduced from two to one hour. Plans to charge in Fernhurst were droppped.