THE top deck of Farnham Station’s new car park finally opened to the public last Friday, delivering the full 170 additional spaces promised by South West Trains.

Alton Line Users Association (ALUA) chairman David Jones was the first to drive on the new deck, having campaigned tirelessly for some nine years to secure the improvements.

David told the Herald: “One of my first priorities when I took over as ALUA chairman was to get that car park done. Now they’ve done it I feel so chuffed.

“The month delay after the opening of the ground floor was necessary because the top deck is open to the elements and had to be treated with a special surface to protect it from ice, snow, and everything else.

“This took about a fortnight to set and only then could they paint the white lines for the car park.

“But South West Trains said they were going to open the top deck by the end of September and in fairness to them they have done.”

Mr Jones added there are still “one or two” issues for the rail operator to address, and ALUA has received complaints relating to the new car park’s entrance as well as a skip occupying the pavement outside the two-storey building.

He said these have already been raised with South West Trains and he expects the issues to be corrected “in due course”.

Parking charges have remained the same at Farnham Station after the works, with a daily ticket costing £7.50 Monday to Friday or £2 outside of peak times (after 4pm during the week, all day Saturday and Sunday, and on public holidays).

‘Weekend specials’ costing £6 and weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual season tickets are also available.

To register as a member of ALUA, which represents all passengers on the Alton to Waterloo line, and receive updates and address issues affecting commuters, visit the association’s website www.altonlineusers.com or call 01420 84972.