LOBBYING for lower speed limits in Whitehill and Lindford has paid off this week, following the announcement that the speed limit throughout Lindford Village and on the Walldown Road will be reduced to 30 miles per hour. It was announced at Lindford Parish Council on Monday that contractors have confirmed that the area not only meets the criteria for tighter restrictions, but should be a priority. The restricted speed limit will be enforceable throughout the village by March 2008. The contractors for the 'Village 30' scheme, Mott Gifford, confirmed that the village meets the criteria, as based on housing density, and that the decreased speed limit should be implemented in the schedule for this financial year. As the 30 mph limit will run throughout the village, limits on Liphook Road, Headley Road, Lindford Road and Mill lane will be reduced. Lindford district councillor Yvonne Parker-Smith said: "This is great news. The road through Lindford is quite wide, and unfortunately motorists do go quickly through the village. There are a lot of older people in the village, and pupils walking to Mill Chase, so it is important that people stick to the limit. Speed limits are there for safety, not for the sake of it. "It has been a long campaign and everyone in Lindford is very pleased to see that it has been agreed. The parish council, village residents and the county council have all been instrumental in bringing on the change, and it can't come quickly enough. We're really pleased." The new speed limit will be highlighted by 'village gateways', which will include a section of red tarmac and standing signs stating the village name and new speed limit. The signs, which are funded through the 'Village 30' scheme, will be placed on the Lindford Road near the Broxhead Farm Road junction, on the Liphook Rd to the south of Headley Mill and on Mill Lane on the Headley side of the junction with Headley Road. The parish council is currently in talks with the contractors regarding the installation of one or more speed indicating devices (SIDS). It is hoped that the village could have one mobile version with sockets in different locations. The work to reduce the speed limit along Walldown Road is set to begin next week, after five years of lobbying. Councillor for Whitehill and Walldown, Adam Carew said: "This is excellent news. The traffic order has been unopposed and work will start very shortly." The new speed limit of 30 mph is to be extended along Walldown Road to Mornington House and down Liphook Road. It is hoped that these restrictions will slow motorists down on their approach to and from Whitehill. "I hope that this will help slow down traffic and go some way to making the junction with Walldown Road safer," said Mr Carew. The news follows a meeting Mr Carew had with Hampshire County Council highways agency in February this year. "Former Walldown councillor Sue Howard and I decided to go public earlier this year after years of getting nowhere with our demands to get the speed limit reduced and to sort out the Walldown Road junction. "Highways suggested extending the 30 mph speed limit down Liphook Rd, but we felt this did not go far enough and it should be applied to Walldown Road too. The county council agreed and to our delight amended the proposals. "This is a major step in the right direction. Sue and I have been campaigning with our fellow councillors, to get speed limits reduced on Walldown , Liphook and Hollywater Roads since 2002. These are well- known rat runs and we need the speed limits to be reduced and for them to be properly enforced," said Mr Carew. Mr Carew is determined to continue his campaign with residents and other Walldown councillors in order to reduce the speed limit further. Further traffic calming measures on the Liphook Road are being implemented with funds provided by the Chase Road developers. This is not part of the village scheme but councillors believe they will be important in making the 30 mph limit effective.
