BUSINESSES in Petersfield are being urged to take part in new talks aimed at tackling the problems of travelling to work, car parking and congestion in the town.

The first meeting of the new Commuter Forum will take place in Petersfield on Monday at 2 pm in Whitman Laboratories.

It is a new initiative set up jointly by Hampshire County Council and East Hampshire District Council to encourage businesses to work with local authorities to produce workplace travel plans.

Gwil Williams was appointed transport development officer for EHDC earlier this year. He told The Herald: ÒThis is an initial meeting to see how local businesses can look at adopting travel plans and new ways of getting staff to work.Ó

Among those who will be attending the first meeting will be Gales Brewery, Drum Housing Association members, Bedales School and several larger companies in the town.

Inviatations have gone out to businesses in the area with more than 25 employees.

Mr Williams said the aim was to encourage staff to look at different options for travelling to work, including car sharing, public transport, walking or using bicycles.

ÒWe know that car parking, including parking for workers, is a big issue in Petersfield and we want to know what people think the other main issues are,Ó said Mr Williams.

He said EHDC and Hampshire County Council also wanted to outline how they could help and support alternative means of travelling to work.

He said there were special issues which faced workers in the rural community of Petersfield, and accessibility to public transport was one.

Mr Williams hoped the forum on Monday would be the first of regular meetings with businesses in Petersfield and other areas of East Hampshire.

At the meeting David Hunt, for Whitman Laboratories, will outline travel arrangements carried out by his company which include using minibuses to bring in workers from as far away as Portsmouth.

Also present will be Lionel Newman, senior transport officer at Hampshire County Council, and the countyÕs workplace travel plan co-ordinator, Conrad Haigh.

Mr Haigh told The Herald: ÒWe will be telling businesses about new initiatives from the government and what we and the district council can do to help.Ó

He wanted to get businesses thinking about alternatives and to pass on the message that help was available to get workplace travel plans under way.

Anyone who is interested in attending the meeting should contact Mr Williams at East Hampshire District Council on 01730 266551.