After a successful campaign to have speeding measures implemented on the B4640 – better known as the Newtown Straight – Hampshire County Council will be conducting a seven-day traffic survey along the road.
The campaign was launched by Newtown Parish Council and supported by Burghclere Parish Council in response to consistent instances of speeding on the long, straight stretch of 50mph road.
Initially, the parish councils wished to install a speed indicator device (SID) on the road, but the county council denied this request on policy grounds.
After months of negotiations, and with support from North West Hampshire MP Kit Malthouse, Hampshire County Council offered to conduct the week-long traffic survey to establish the facts of the reported speeding.
The estimated £245 cost of the survey will be shared by the two parish councils, and they are now in contact with the county council in order to schedule the survey.
Newtown parish councillor Tom Reseigh said: “On behalf of all local residents and all B4640 road users, thank you to all of you involved in this matter.
“There is clearly a growing concern with traffic speeds and particularly with the very high speed motor bike races taking place along this particular stretch of road.
“It is clearly essential that we gather objective information about this ASAP, as only then, will we be able to agree upon the next steps necessary to resolve the problem.”
