HASLEMERE’S newly-launched Community Information Centre, at the town railway station, has just been awarded third place in a national award on the reuse of redundant shops across the entire rail network in the UK.

South Downs National Park Authority, Haslemere Town Council, National Trust, Haslemere Society, Haslemere Vision and Haslemere Information Centre joined forces with Haslemere Fringe and Surrey County Council to form The Haslemere Community Rail Partnership earlier this year.

Thanks to a grant from South West Trains, the group converted an empty retail unit in the station concourse to promote town events back in March

Rail partnership chairman Nikki Barton said: “This is fantastic news and reflects all the hard work put into this project by the local community, who worked together to deliver this community asset for Haslemere.

“The facility is available to all local voluntary organisations and clubs, to promote the work that they do and the events that they put on in and around Haslemere.

The award, also comes at a time when we are exploring ways to manage this facility more effectively and to enable the information centre to be open and more accessible to the public as a whole.

“In addition, and to make the station more attractive, we are in discussions with South West Trains to restore the flower beds between platforms two and three, and to ensure we maximise the screening of the new car park with appropriate planting.”

Richard Kempton, the train company’s community rail liaison manager, said: “South West Trains are really proud of this award for the rail partnership.

“The hard work and collaborative working of the local stakeholders has helped to drive this project forward. The project has been recognised across South West Trains as an area of best practice for vacant shops and, through this award, will help inspire other community projects nationally.”

A total of £50m is being spent on station upgrades on Waterloo lines.