Calls for speed limit to be lowered on major Hedge End road

Calls are growing for the limit to be lowered from 40 mph to 30 mph on Kings Copse Avenue.  

The campaign comes after a number of accidents on or near to highway - including a crash on Heath House Lane that saw a 22-year-old motorcyclist killed. 

Brandon Fielder, of Fowler's Road in Hedge End, died after the crash, at the junction with Barnfield Way, on July 28 last year.

A memorial bench has been built as a tribute to 22-year-old motorcyclist, Brandon Fielder (Image: NQ) Councillor Rupert Kyrle, who has been a representing Botley and Hedge End North since 2002, said that in recent years he was aware of five major crashes on and near Kings Copse Avenue.

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He added: “One of the more recent incidents saw a car come flying off the road at the roundabout on Kings Copse Avenue and go straight through a family’s garden wall.

“Had the family been standing in the garden at the time, they would have been killed.

“Hampshire County Council has repeatedly refused to drop the speed limit on the road – even though we have two primary schools in the vicinity.”

Kings Copse Avenue (Image: NQ) Kings Copse Avenue is used as a main route to access both Kings Copse Primary School and Freegrounds Infant and Junior School.

Those residents living near the busy road have also launched a petition to try and persuade Hampshire County Council to lower the speed limit.

Cllr Kyrle continued: “All these issues are being made worse now that Kings Copse Avenue is seen as a main route leading to the motorway at junction 8.

“It is my understanding that the county council prefer this as it stops congestion at junction 7 – meaning only more cars will be using this road in the future.

“I was extremely saddened to learn a young man had lost his life after an accident near the road in question – I hope the council will reduce this limit for the sake of the residents living there.”