A TRAFFIC survey may prove to be a vital first step towards the installation of traffic calming measures in Forest Road.

Police will carry out a series of traffic counts on the stretch of road after a request by Whitehill Town Council for a pedestrian crossing.

At Monday's meeting of the town council's planning and amenities committee, town clerk Linda Tiley said: "The traffic count will be carried out in September because there is no point in doing it while the schools are on holiday.

"It will also mean that we can take into consideration the impact of the new doctor's surgery when it opens."

The town council is concerned about the number of accidents along Forest Road, which is the main route to the Forest Shopping Centre, and is attempting to slow traffic travelling along it and make the road safer for pedestrians.

Mrs Tiley said that she had attended a meeting with a representative of Hampshire County Council and Whitehill traffic officer Pc Eric Martin last month, to discuss the possibility of a pedestrian refuge.

"We also looked at what other possibilities there are to help with traffic calming."

Mrs Tiley said that both Hampshire County Council and the police were examining trials of different traffic calming measures which are currently in place in Fleet - including a new corrugated surface to slow traffic down.

"The majority of accidents happen between 5 and 7 pm. so we have been examining that, but of course Forest Road can be a bit difficult.

"We will have to look at this very carefully because there are lots of junctions and entrances all of the way along it."

The clerk said that future meetings have been planned with traffic officers in a bid to make both Forest Road and other roads in the parish safer.

"We will be discussing new possibilities at a meeting with officers to discuss Hollywater Road and Liphook Road."

p The wait will have to continue for pedestrian refuge in Chalet Hill.

Linda Tiley told the planning and amenities committee that a request for the refuge has been given the thumbs down by Hampshire County Council because funding for the rest of this financial year has already been allocated.

However, councillors were keen not to give up their fight and decided to contact county councillor John Filer to get him involved with their quest.