RESIDENTS living alongside one of the busiest roads in Petersfield say they are frustrated at the lack of progress in trying to make it safer.

The Causeway will become even busier when vehicles start using it from the 300 new homes on estates at Causeway Farm and Larcombe Road.

Wilhelmina Horner and her neighbour Camilla Dennis are campaigning for more safety measures such as speed humps and a reduced speed limit on what is the old A3 road through the southern part of the town.

In a letter to East Hampshire District Council engineer Chris O’ Connor, Mrs Horner said: “Despite providing a factual account of safety incidents making this a dangerous stretch of road, you will await an actual casualty to occur before taking action, and this on a road that feeds the main entrance of a school.”

In a separate letter, her neighbour said: “I am increasingly concerned about the volume of traffic, and also the speed of many vehicles. The extensive building of homes is exacerbating this, and there is no provision for the massive increase in cars using The Causeway.

“I fear there will be a serious accident, even a fatality if this is not addressed. Crossing the road is also a major problem; The Petersfield School should at the very least be assisted with a safe crossing.” East Hampshire District Council says it is responsible for surveying roads for safety, but it’s unlikely anything will be done until there is an injury accident.

In a statement the council said: “East Hampshire District Council’s traffic management team is now responsible for introducing new parking restrictions such as double or single yellow lines, new direction or tourist signing, and other minor lining and signing schemes in the district. "These functions were previously carried out by Hampshire County Council.“Functions such as amending speed limits, physical traffic calming measures and pedestrian crossings continue to be the responsibility of Hampshire County Council. “Our traffic management team does look into whether new speed restrictions would be beneficial on roads in East Hampshire but obviously limited resources must be allocated to those roads where the need is demonstrably greatest. "In line with Hampshire’s policy, we initially assess this need by analysing a road’s injury accident record over the last five years.“On The Causeway there have been no recorded injury incidents attributable to excess speed over that period. "From a casualty reduction point of view, when compared with less fortunate sites, this location would be a lower priority in terms of remedial measures.“The Causeway has, however, undergone various traffic calming enhancements including cycling/pedestrian safety improvements as part of the Shipwright’s Way project; the existing 30mph and 40mph limits were extended further to the south with build-outs constructed at the boundary of the 30mph limit, improved road markings including hazard warning lines, painted 30mph ‘roundels’ on the road surface and high grip change of colour surfacing added to the natural speed calming of the roundabout. “The enforcement of speed limits is the responsibility of Hampshire Constabulary. Naturally, there is regular consultation between East Hampshire District Council, Hampshire County Council, and Hampshire Constabulary to ensure the most effective programme of road safety improvements wherever possible.”