A MEETING is due to be held to discuss traffic- calming measures on some of Whitehill's most notorious "speeding" roads, following pressure from town councillors. Councillors Adam Carew and Sue Howard, who represent the Walldown ward on Whitehill Town Council, have stressed that speeding is "still a major issue of concern" in Hollywater, Liphook and Walldown Roads. After repeated calls for action, they are due to meet representatives from the county council's highways department and other interested parties to discuss possible traffic- calming measures on these unrestricted roads. The town council wrote to the highways department in 2002 and 2006 expressing its concern over speeding traffic on the three roads. Mr Carew said the once-quiet country lanes had become a "rat-run for speeding cars and boy racers", while Ms Howard asked: "Must we have a fatal accident here before we are listened to?" Mr Carew said: "When I grew up here, these were quiet country lanes. Now they are a rat- run for speeding cars and boy racers. It is totally absurd that these country roads are stuck at 60 mph when the larger B3004 nearby is 50 mph." The highways department has announced that traffic-calming measures are to be installed in Selborne, and it is currently evaluating a list of suggestions put forward by Lindford Parish Council for the Liphook Road through the village. Late last year, Mr Carew submitted a number of proposals for road-improvement projects in Whitehill and Bordon to the new Hampshire Action Team (HAT). The list included several suggestions for Liphook, Walldown and Hollywater Roads, including 40mph speed limits and traffic calming. Locations expected to be addressed by the Walldown councillors at the meeting with highways officers include the Hollywater Crossroads, Walldown Bridge and the Walldown-Liphook roads junction. Mr Carew claimed the town council had agreed with the county council to extend the 40mph speed limit on part of Liphook Road, and said this was originally scheduled for 2006/07 but had now been delayed until 2007/8 to allow speed checks in Walldown Road. Signage has also been requested along Liphook Road, clearly marking the Whitehill Park retirement homes site, the Z-bend, a heavy vehicle plant crossing, The Royal Oak pub and the junction with Hollywater Road. A spokesman for Hampshire County Council said: "This issue has been brought to the council's attention by Whitehill Town Council. We will now be looking at traffic data and accident statistics to see if any engineering measures are appropriate."
