LOCAL residents have welcomed the implementation by Hampshire County Council of improved traffic calming measures along the New Odiham Road on its approach into Alton but, they fear, it is not enough.
Relieved to have seen some results after ten years, campaigner Yvonne Gray said that traffic leaving the town does appear to have slowed down but vehicles Òthundering downÓ from the Odiham direction are still going too fast to comply with the 40 mph limit.
She would like to see the speed restriction put further back and for the stretch of road in the built-up area reduced to 30 mph.
While this may be considered ÒunrealisticÓ, county councillor Tony Ludlow believes that the possible introduction of a count-down system, in the form of a 50 mph limit before drivers hit the 40 mph zone, might help them to arrive in the built-up area in a more controlled fashion.
Mrs Gray has lived in New Odiham Road for the past 20 years during which time she has seen an increase in both volume and speed of traffic.
The declassification from an A to a B road has done little, she says, to reduce either since the B3349 still remains the most direct route for traffic wishing to access the M3.
Although residents no longer suffer from the peak time traffic jams experienced before the installation of the Basingstoke Road mini-roundabout which, admits Mrs Gray, has served to free up the traffic, the speed of vehicles remains an issue.
ÒIt is still a nightmare trying to get out of our drive,Ó she said.
The new traffic calming scheme, implemented over the past few weeks, includes the installation of larger 40 mph signs set on a background of fluorescent green and yellow, and of new speed reduction signs warning drivers of the junction with Greenfields Avenue.
There is a stretch of buff, anti-skid surface within the built-up area and on the down side of the Greenfields Avenue hill, and white edging lines, together with a central hatched area to prevent over-taking and to narrow the road to encourage lower speeds.
In welcoming the improvements, Alton Town CouncilÕs planning and transportation committee pointed out that implementation of the scheme had been triggered by an increased accident rate over the past two years. Councillors echoed the concerns of residents that the main problem was one of excessive speed and hoped that these measures would help to combat the problem.
While acknowledging that the scheme was Òso obviously neededÓ, Mr Ludlow said it had been designed in line with Òbest good practiceÓ and time would tell how effective it would be.
He felt the red gateway, yet to be installed between the 40 mph signs on the Odiham side of the scheme, should further help to encourage speed reduction.