A SOLUTION to the “absolute nightmare” of parking at Haslemere railway station moved a step closer after town MP Jeremy Hunt announced funding was now in place for 100 more parking spaces to be built this year.

South West Trains confirmed last April that it had sufficient funds to build a “simple” car park at Haslemere but did not say when the money would be available.

The rail operator is investing £50m in customer improvements across the network as part of an agreement with the Department for Transport.

Surrey county councillor Nikki Barton welcomed the go-ahead for a single deck rather than the “inappropriate” multi-storey car park originally proposed, which she described as like dropping “a car park the size of two jumbo jets into the middle of this small market town”.

Mr Hunt has backed the discussions over the last two years between the the transport minister, Network Rail, South West Trains, and councillors from the town, county and borough to formulate an action plan to provide the extra spaces needed at Haslemere station, culminating in the announcement last month.

The proposal is to erect an upper deck above the existing car park next to platform one.

Network Rail confirmed planning consent was deemed granted under general permitted development, but the scheme will be subject to final approval by Waverley Borough Council.

Provided full permission is granted, work will start on the new car park over the summer and be completed by the autumn – and should also offer relief for Liphook commuters who travel to Haslemere where there are more services to Waterloo.

South West Trains is currently bidding to renew its South Western franchise from 2017 in the Department for Transport competition to select a new operator.

Mr Hunt said the proposed car park scheme was not dependent on South West Trains being awarded the franchise and it would go ahead regardless.

“This is excellent news,” said Mr Hunt. “The issue of car parking is an absolute nightmare for many in Haslemere. As rail services have got better that has attracted more passengers, who need parking from farther afield.

“I don’t think this will solve the whole problem but it will go a long way.

“The next stage is to make sure the design is attractive and we are happy with the look of it. It will not only help train users and residents but will hopefully make Haslemere an even more attractive option for those London commuters looking to move or relocate to the area and allay their fears of not enough station parking.”

Plans to build a multi-storey have been pursued by Haslemere Town Council for 10 years. Waverley granted planning consent for a new station car park with 463 spaces in 2009 – but the scheme was dropped as financially unviable.

The project was revived in 2011 when South West Trains and Network Rail made a joint funding bid to the Department for Transport, but supporters had to keep battling when the bid was turned down in December 2011.

Haslemere Mayor Melanie Odell, who joined Mr Hunt and South West Trains representatives with fellow town councillors, said: “It is 10 years since the then mayor Michael Dover sought to enlarge the parking facilities for the station and ever since then, Haslemere Town Council has lobbied for more parking for our commuters.

“We are very pleased we now see this project coming to fruition and would like to thank South West Trains for their investment in our town and all who have supported us for many years, especially our MP, Jeremy Hunt.”

Mrs Barton has been involved in the joint discussions with South West Trains to formulate an action plan and welcomed the agreement for a scaled-down version of the original car park scheme.

A record 700 responses were received in less than a week to Haslemere Vision’s station travel survey.

Planning consultants Harris Ethical said it was the biggest response in the shortest time it had ever received at any station in the UK it had conducted surveys for.

Responses will be used to develop a Haslemere railway station travel plan to ease the transport problems and provide better access.