PLANS to extend the opening hours of a tourism hub at Petersfield Railway Station are being discussed just days after it re-opened.

Last year more than 900 people visited the volunteer manned hub in the station’s former parcel sorting office to ask for tourist information about the town and South Downs National Park.

The hub is the brainchild of the East Hampshire Community Rail Partnership, whose members include Petersfield Town Council and East Hampshire District Council.

Partnership spokesman Mark Miller said: “We would like it to open permanently, but it depends on funding.

“But in the short term, it would be good if it could open earlier in the year, around May time and close later, perhaps November.

“But to do that, we are appealing for people to become volunteer information officers at the hub.”

The ambition is to make the room available to the wider community. Mr Miller said: “The aim is to put a toilet and sink in the room, and then open it up for use by the community.

“It’s big enough for yoga classes, for example, or could be used as a meeting room for groups. We want it used all year round if possible.”

Meanwhile on the railway station’s forecourt, volunteers from the Petersfield Community Garden have been busy.

Unused land next to the taxi rank now holds waist high vegetable beds, and there are plans to expand them to other sites in the town. Community garden spokeswoman Sue Edberg said: “People are welcome to pick the vegetables and take them home.

“Our vision is for vegetables to be grown in a number of places on unused land throughout the town.

“It’s a very simple idea, and doesn’t cost much, it just needs volunteers.”