TREES on Elms Field could be cut down and cars parked on the tennis and basketball courts to create more space for commuters when the station car park shuts. 

Wokingham train station's main car park will be closed for four months to add a second deck to the car park, from March 28.

During the closure South West Trains warned the smaller car park would be limited to parking season ticket holders only and said council car parks are likely to be stretched to capacity.

Wokingham Borough Council will submit a planning application so the old courts on Elms Field can be used for car parking by council employees, which they hope will create 96 spaces.

Access to the temporary car park would be through the Paddocks, meaning four trees must be removed from the park.

"We tried to discuss the timing of their work and providing alternative facilities for their customers with South West Trains but our discussions were sadly unsuccessful," said Cllr John Kaiser, executive member for planning and highways.

"Around 200 of their customers will be affected by the station car park closing. So we’re trying to minimise this impact on the town, as quickly and simply as we can.

"The four trees being felled for the Elms Field courts parking have been surveyed and aren’t high quality. They are classified as Category C trees; Category A is best.

"Car parks in the south of the town are already well used in the week; particularly at peak times.

"We hope some of South West Trains’ customers will find alternative ways to get to Wokingham Station or use other stations where there’s parking space, such as Bracknell.

"For people travelling to Reading our Mereoak Park and Ride would be very useful."

Work on the planned 529-space car park at Carnival Pool will be put on hold until June so commuters can use the existing 165 space car park.

The station car park is expected to close on March 28.

Wokingham Borough Council hopes to improve the Elms Road multi-storey, encouraging commuters to use the 180 spaces currently available.

In April the Wellington House car park will be opened up to the public. The upper level of 59 spaces will be set aside for staff parking until 3pm on a weekday whilst the bottom level of 35 will be open for public use at all times.

The four trees in Elms Field would need to be felled by the end of February to avoid birds starting to nest in them.