BASINGSTOKE and Deane Borough Council has given the go-ahead for a 30-space overflow car park at Overton train station.

Full planning permission has been granted for the land at Station Approach, which is already used as a temporary car park. But the move won't signal the end of parking misery for some commuters as Hampshire County Council has yet to take over the land.

The site is still owned by developers Croudace Ltd, who are set to hand it over to the county council as part of a section 106 agreement when Croudace was given outline planning permission for its planned housing development on Overton Hill.

Until it is handed over to the county, none of the necessary improvements will be made.

Overton Parish Council did not object to the plans but wanted the road to be adopted before any work took place.

It also wanted, in the long term, more spaces, adequate lighting and CCTV for public safety reasons.

Writing in the parish newsletter News and Views, Cllr Brian Langer said much of the land surrounding the station is privately owned and not available for station parking, although many notices outlining the penalties were not clear to those using the area.

"It is in car park users' own interests that they take the time to investigate the signing in daylight to ensure they are not subject to wheel clamping during the week," he added.

South West Trains is being asked to sign the boundaries of its land clearly to help 'clarify the situation'.