A SOUTH West Trains scheme to provide rail users with 100 alternative parking spaces while Haslemere’s main station car park is shut, could rely on on a non-existent public bus link.

Last week, SWT launched a publicity drive to gauge support for providing a temporary car park behind the Woolmer Hill’s Edge Leisure Centre, to compensate for the 200 spaces lost during works to extend the main car park – due to last until December.

SWT is circulating leaflets at Haslemere station asking for customer feedback by next Tuesday, on Hoppa Bus running a shuttle service to and from Woolmer Hill.

Unfortunately the only public bus link to save customers a 35-minute walk each way, is the hourly No. 59 bus service operated by its parent company Stagecoach – but that is due to be axed on September 4.

In the latest round of bus cuts to help plug a £50million hole in its 2016 budget, Surrey County Council signed off changes to the bus services it subsidises in the town back in May, meaning the end of the road for the No. 59 from Hammer Hill estate to Grayswood, via Woolmer Hill and the High Lane estate.

Surrey decided not enough passengers travelled to and from the estate to justify continuing to subsidise that section of the route.

“Depending on customers’ interest, it might be feasible to run a shuttle bus between Woolmer Hill and the station,” the leaflet states. “Hoppa Bus will run a trial from Monday, August 22. To help us with defining the right timetable and also justifying if there’s a demand: could you please complete the feedback form on the reverse of this leaflet to register your interest.

“Please hand the form in at the ticket office by Tuesday, August 16.”

When The Herald contacted SWT about the only public bus service link being axed in a few weeks time, the rail company agreed the No. 59 was operated by Stagecoach.

It said as it was under tender to Surrey and so basically operated for the county council, it was unable to change the decision to withdraw it.

The Herald was also informed the SWT survey conducted in June to get customer feedback on the possibility of introducing a Hoppa Bus shuttle between the station and outlying areas, had only received 29 responses.

A SWT spokesman said: “Work is currently under way to create more than 100 additional car parking spaces at Haslemere, significantly increasing the number of parking spaces at the station. This is part of a multi-million pound investment to create 1,400 spaces across the network.

“We have been communicating with passengers, and local neighbours in advance of the works starting, particularly around alternative ways of travelling to the station while work is underway.

“Working with Waverley Borough Council we have recently managed to secure an additional 100 parking spaces at Woolmer Hill and we are working with Hoppa Bus to run a pilot for a shuttle bus to the station.

“If there is enough interest, the trial service will run for a month initially.

“We did investigate building the new deck in stages to allow parts of the car park to remain open however this would have significantly extended the construction time and caused more disruption to passengers.

“Unfortunately, there is simply no way of significantly expanding a car park without impacting on the operation of the car park.”

Borough councillor Robert Knowles said he was “flabbergasted”, the No. 59 was being cut.

“There will be no service to Woolmer Hill any more,” he said.

“This is a loss to Haslemere town service. With the No. 59 gone, that is a 20 per cent reduction in our bus services.

“I’m surprised to hear it is being relied on by SWT, as it appears it will no longer be running. Stagecoach is withdrawing it at the same time the same company is doing the car park works at the station.”

Campaigners have warned many more rural bus services face being wiped out by council budget cuts.

Research by the Campaign for Better Transport says subsidies to routes have been reduced by £78million since 2010, with another £27million under threat this year.

The Government is developing measures in the upcoming Buses Bill, now going through the House of Lords, so local authorities can deliver improved bus services.

Bus services across England are currently deregulated, meaning companies are free to choose what services they run, what buses they use and how much they charge.