£9m Hatfield rail station revamp will be ‘little bit of pain’ for improvement, say backers
The proposed new multistorey carpark at Hatfield Station - Credit: Archant
PARKING spaces at Hatfield railway station will be slashed during a £9m revamp – with a rail operator urging commuters to use other stations.
The largest car park at the Great North Road transport hub will be closed for 10 months, from Monday October 14, while a multi-storey site is built.
First Capital Connect is urging commuters to use buses and possibly travel from other stations while the 135 capacity north car park is closed.
A ward councillor this week told the WHT it would cause short-term pain, but large benefits beyond that.
Roger Perkins, communications manager at the rail operator, said: “We know it is going to massively inconvenience people, unfortunately we have no option.
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“The car park has to close if a new and improved car park is to be built and a new and improved station is to be privided.”
He added: “It is understandable [it will annoy people] we can only acknowledge that it will be inconvenient for a lot of people, we are not ignoring that in any way whatsoever, but we are doing are best to alleviate it.”
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Ward councillor Tony Kingsbury, Conservative, said he was pleased that the work was set to go ahead.
He told the WHT: “It’s another good thing happening in Hatfield.
“Maybe it’s a little bit of pain, but afterwards it will be a big improvement for Hatfield.
“There are people who are concerned about the amount of parking at the station.”
Car park season ticket holders who have held a monthly or longer pass since before September 25 will be able to use other stations for no extra cost.
Also they will be gifted a free week’s bus travel within the Hatfield Plusbus area to and from the station between October 13 and November 9.
Once completed the new multi-storey car park will cater for 378 vehicles and the station itself will be developed.
It will be extended, there will be more retail spaces and there will be a second entrance.
Bus users will also benefit from the revamp when an improved interchange opens.
There will also be a new pedestrian footbridge and disabled access for both platforms.
