WHITEHILL Town Council has expressed the need for new speed limits on Hollywater Road, to combat the rising levels of traffic speed.

The topic was discussed at the meeting of the councilÕs planning and amenities committee on Monday, in response to a letter the council had received on the subject.

The letter expressed concern that the Tesco store proposed for Bordon will cause additional traffic to an already dangerous road, making the current situation even worse.

Geraldine Meeson, a councillor and Hollywater resident, said: ÒHollywater is a rural area that its residents enjoy very much, and we need to protect it from becoming too urban.

ÒHollywater Road has no speed limit and residents of this road are prisoners in their own houses. There have been three accidents in the past year: a man has been killed there, and a dog has been badly hurt in the road. Something needs to be done.

ÒYou canÕt walk a pushchair down there, you canÕt let your children ride their bikes there, you canÕt even walk down there safely, and I think that the Tesco situation will only make matters worse.Ó

Neil Ockenden disagreed: ÒTesco is completely irrelevant. Most of the traffic that will use the Tesco store is already here, so I donÕt think that the store will greatly affect traffic flows through Hollywater.

Geraldine Meeson responded: ÒWeÕll see. I really hope I am wrong, but I doubt it.Ó

Dr Helen Walters agreed that the Tesco store could well have an effect on traffic flows and said that the possibility should not just be dismissed.

After discussion, the committee was left to decide what speed limit it would like to see on Hollywater Road, so that it could be suggested to Hampshire County Council for consideration.

Town clerk Linda Tiley informed the committee, on the advice of Whitehill Traffic PoliceÕs traffic management officer Pc Eric Martin, that desired limits should be kept reasonable so that they may be self-enforcing.

It was decided by councillors that Hollywater Road should be given a 40 mph speed limit, and this suggestion will be passed on to Pc Martin and the county council.