New car park tier opens

11:49am Tuesday 2nd September 2008

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A NEW tier has opened on the car park at Beaconsfield Train Station following concern over lack of parking in the town.

The third floor on the multistorey car park was formally opened yesterday by the town’s mayor Councillor Henry Wilson, after being delayed.

An extra 178 spaces are now available at the station’s car park, bringing the total number of bays to 696.

Beaconsfield Neighbourhood Action Group has campaigned for the changes following fears that all-day parking in Beaconsfield Old Town was affecting businesses.

NAG chairman, André de Marsac, welcomed the decision.

He said: “It is good for the town when everyone works together to try to solve a problem and would like to thank Chiltern Railways for listening to us.

“We hope that by increasing the number of car spaces for commuters who tend to park all day, there will be more spaces on other car parks and side streets during the day for people visiting the town.”

Chiltern Railways spokesman Michael Scanlan, said the decision was taken after consulting the NAG and rail users.

He said: “The car park was just full in the morning, we were out of capacity. From a commercial point of view the more people who can park at the station the more people who can use trains.

"People were blocking up roads elsewhere and parking where they could. It was not so much we want this extra tier but we need this extra tier.”

He added: “I think we are really going to start to notice it at the start of next week when the schools go back.

"I am sure it won’t be long before it gets too full again and we will have to put another tier on.”

The tier was originally due to open in June but a decision was taken to resurface the middle level during the summer holidays, Mr Scanlan added.