NEW traffic calming methods in Lindford are proving ineffective, according to locals.
Residents attending this week's parish council meeting said they were very disappointed by new safety measures on the busy main road.
A refuge was placed on the Liphook Road, at Elmsfield Court, about six weeks ago to provide a safer crossing for pedestrians and to slow vehicles down.
The parish council heard on Monday that the refuge is not acting as safe place for people to cross the road and many motorists are failing to slow down despite its presence. Some residents felt that it would only be a matter of time before a major accident occurred.
Furthermore, it has exacerbated the the parking problems on the Liphook Road side of Elmsfield Court, which have worsened since the moving of the post office.
Chairman Ian Skelton-Smith said that he has mixed views about the traffic calming measures.
"We have been pressing the county council for a long time for some sort of road safety measure. I feel it has been put in right place because it is a natural crossing point for pedestrians and people have slowed down slightly.
"However, many motorists are still driving like lunatics and although it isn't quite finished it needs to be looked at again. I think the road needs more traffic calming, maybe speed humps as well," said Mr Skelton-Smith.
The parish council has recently written a letter to the county council, outlining its growing concerns regarding the refuge. In the letter they ask for the county council to look again at the safety measures and improve them.
"We would be grateful if you could review the siting and/or design of the refuge as a matter of urgency." the parish council's letter said.
The council has also highlighted the problem of parking near to the shops on Elmsfield court.
The letter explains that, at peak times cars are parking in any possible space available, with vehicles regularly blocking in garages at the residents' car park between the shops and Cricket Lea as well as damaging grass areas and leaving ugly patches of bare earth in the centre of the village.
The parish councillors, along with members of the local community, had offered some suggestions to the HCC, such as using the Royal Exchange pub car park, which is under-occupied, converting the walk way in front of the shops so that vehicles could use it for access and parking, or replacing the grass verges near the shops with parking spaces.
The preferred option of the council would be to acquire the car parking space from the pub, either through renting or buying. It has held discussions with the owner but has yet to come to any agreement.
The letter to HCC finally points out that Lindford Parish Council would like to reduce the speed limit on the The Liphook Road from 40 mph to 30 mph making it safer to cross.