Waverley's plan for a three-hour limit and permits at the free 50-space Beacon Hill car park is on hold. A survey asks villagers to choose by 15 December.

A plan to bring in a three-hour limit at the free car park in Beacon Hill has been put on hold. Residents, shop workers and shoppers are being asked which of two options they want, and the survey closes on 15 December.

Beacon Hill is the village next to Hindhead, about seven miles south of Farnham. Its car park is run by Waverley Borough Council and has 50 spaces.

Haslemere Town Council published the survey on 9 November. It says the survey is backed by the area’s town, borough and West Surrey councillors.

Why the car park is under pressure

The car park is free. The town council says it is used by:

  • shop staff and shoppers
  • people using the recreation ground
  • parents at the school
  • local businesses, including a car service garage
  • residents of nearby flats and houses with no parking of their own

The town council says there are times when it has been “impossible to find a space”.

Waverley had proposed keeping the car park free but adding a three-hour maximum stay, with permits for people who need to park for longer. That plan has been suspended so local councillors can ask people what they want. The town council says Waverley “has expressed a willingness to support whatever option gains consensus with residents and businesses”.

The two options

The survey form sets out two choices.

Option A: go back to how it was, with no restrictions. Parking stays free and unlimited. The survey says there may be enough room for residents and shop workers, but not always for school parents and shoppers. There would be no permits, and it would be hard to stop people storing or dumping cars there.

Option B: a three-hour limit, plus permits. Short stays stay free, and residents without their own parking and shop workers could buy a permit for a small admin charge. The survey says this would free up spaces for school parents and shoppers, and penalise anyone leaving several cars there all day.

The survey also lists the risks of Option B:

  • demand for permits may be higher than the spaces available
  • people who need to park for longer but cannot get a permit may move onto nearby roads, especially Hill Road
  • the limit would have to be enforced by Waverley

Under both options, the survey notes that Beacon Hill Garage now uses its own land around the barn, so its cars no longer block spaces.

The size of the permit charge and how many permits would be issued are not set out in the survey.

What it means for you

If you live, work or shop in Beacon Hill, this is your chance to decide how the car park works. Waverley has said it will follow the option with the most support.

You can fill in the survey online through the town council’s page. Paper copies can be handed in at Simply Fresh or the Royal British Legion Club in the village. Either way, the deadline is 15 December 2026.

The form asks for your postcode, how long you usually park and whether you would need a permit. Contact details are optional.