A BOROUGH councillor has launched a campaign to reduce the speed limit on a stretch of a Basingstoke road, citing growing traffic volume and safety concerns for pedestrians and children.

Cllr Sheena Grassi, who was elected to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council in the recent election, is trying to lower a 40mph limit on a stretch on Great Binfields Road, near Chineham, due to houses on both sides.

"Great Binfields Road is a busy residential road, and with so many pedestrians and children walking around, 40mph is simply too fast," Cllr Grassi said.

"Because it is coming down the hill, the vehicles actually go a lot faster than 40mph. The community here is pushing for speed reduction and the Highways Authority needs to listen.

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"When I was canvassing for the election, quite a few of the residents shared their concerns about the speed. This has the community support."

The current 40mph zone is located between the junction of Great Binfields Primary School and the junction after The Barn Animal Practice.

There is a 20mph zone near the school and a 30mph zone after the vets junction.

"Strangely, this downhill bend has a 40mph zone," Cllr Grassi said.

"Many residents are worried that one of these days a car will end up in their garden because most of these vehicles go a lot faster than 40mph.

"It's not just children who are at risk, older people and any pedestrian using this road are unsafe."

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The increased traffic volume on Great Binfields Road is another concern for Cllr Grassi.

"It's a much busier road than it was five years and 10 years ago," she said.

"I think it will continue to be so in the future. So we need to put things in place to safeguard the community."

Commenting on the campaign, a Hampshire County Council spokesperson said Hampshire Highways would be willing to lower the speed limit if the parish council applies for the change with reasons.

A spokesperson for Hampshire County Council said: “There are several speed limits in place along Great Binfields Road including sections of 30mph, and a 20mph limit on Binfields Farm Lane that serves the local school.

"Speed limit changes are determined by a range of factors that includes the number of incidents that have occurred causing injuries. This ensures that the limited resource we have is always targeted toward those areas where there will be the biggest impact on road safety. In this case, the road in question has a relatively good safety record.

“The county council has recently adopted a revised policy that gives local communities, parish, and town councils the opportunity to apply for 20mph zones if evidence can be provided to show that the changes would be appropriate and genuinely effective. The cost of delivering any changes requested would also need to be covered locally as our own funds will always be directed to sites with the highest accident and injury rates.”