HASLEMERE traders have hailed Waverley's decision to defer its application to turn Wey Hill fairground into a permanent pay-and-display car park as a major opportunity to come up with a community plan that would boost the local economy.

The borough council announced it had cancelled the three-day public inquiry, due to start on April 8, last week.

The hearing would have sealed the fate of the area of commonland and Waverley Borough Council has agreed to consider alternative proposals put forward by the town.

The move followed a public ballot in which more than 1,500 residents backed Haslemere Vision's call that Waverley should wait until the localism group produced its neighbourhood plan to guide future development.

For full story, see this week's Haslemere Herald.