Parking enforcement officers are cracking down on errant motorists to try to stop the short-stay section of Wey Hill fairground car park becoming a ‘free for all’.

Wey Hill traders, who were granted that area to boost footfall to shops and facilities, have long complained commuters are using all the spaces in the free car park, because it is close to Haslemere Station, from 6am to 7pm.

Planning consent was recently granted for the site to lose its common land status and Waverley now plans to surface and formalise the area – used as a free car park for decades – and make it a pay-and-display facility.

The current problems have hit neighbouring Haslemere Youth Hub hard. Recently revamped with four studios offering different activities for parents and families all day, it attracts many short-term visitors, but they can’t find anywhere to park.

Youth hub co-manager Nadeana Simpson-Hadden said: “It got so bad recently that people were parking in the recycling collection area. When the contractors turned up to collect the recycling, they couldn’t take it away.

“It’s good to know Waverley is taking action. It’s become a free for all.”

A Waverley Borough Council spokesperson said: “Parking enforcement officers have been visiting the car park this week and are issuing warning notices to vehicles that remain parked for longer than the four-hour short-stay time limit.

“These state the registration number has been noted and in future, the owner risks a parking charge notice if they continue to exceed the time limit.

“There are major improvement works planned for the car park, including new electric vehicle charging points, and pay and display will begin once the works are completed.

“The works are in the planning stage at present and we do not have a projected start date, although we expect they can be completed within the 2020/21 financial year.

“Pay-and-display tariffs have not yet been agreed, and at this stage no discussions have taken place on whether concessionary rates will be available to local businesses or workers.”

Haslemere Chamber of Commerce president Craig McGowan said: “The pressure on parking is a result of the lack of long-term planning by Waverley, as well as Network Rail.

“For many years the chamber has suggested an extra deck on the Weydown Road car park and a third tier to the station car park.

“We put plans forward to take over Wey Hill car park, as we are trying to do in the Haslemere High Street at the old Co-op car park.”