CAMPAIGNERS are launching a fresh appeal to slash the speed limit on a notorious Hampshire main road.

The stretch of the A36 between Ower and Landford, in neighbouring Wiltshire, is a hotspot for collisions – despite the introduction of a speed cameras at Wellow more than a decade ago.

Now communities from both sides of the border have made separate calls for tougher measures to curb speeds to slash the number of fatalities on the narrow single carriageway.

It comes as motorists were yesterday caught in transport chaos when a lorry overturned near Ower – causing gridlock on surrounding roads.

Emergency services shut the road northbound between West Wellow and the Junction Two of the M27 when the vehicle flipped over and crashed through the barriers.

And it comes after a 23-year-old motorcyclist who died when his black Aprilia 125 motorcycle collided with a red Nissan Juke at the junction of Stock Lane near Landford on the Wiltshire side of the border in July.

The stretch of road running from Ower and Landford ranges from between national speed limit to 40mph – with a yellow speed camera at Whinwhistle Road in Wellow and a flashing warning sign at Plaitford.

Now campaigners are urging for it to be switched to the lower speed for the entire length of the route.

It comes as Hampshire County Council leader Councillor Roy Perry has taken the unusual step of supporting residents across the border in Landford running a petition calling for Highways England to reduce the limit from 50mph to 40mph between New Road and Sherfield English Road.

Cllr Perry says that this will help traffic slow down when it reaches Whinwhistle Road.

Now villagers in Wellow are calling for this to be extended down to Ower where the road changes back to the national speed limit.

Wellow Parish councillor Harmeet Singh Brar, who lives on the route, said: “There are vehicles going by so fast that it shakes your house even though there is a camera there.

“The speed limit needs to be reduced. The A36 wasn’t designed for this much traffic.”

Margaret Whittaker, 68, from West Wellow, who lives near the route said: “It would make sense as it is a particularly dangerous stretch of road with humps and hollows and people sometimes think they can overtake.

"There have been nasty crashes along there and it would make it safer.”

Ian Garnett and Colin Johnson from Landford are both spearheading the petition in their village.

They have received 47 letters of support from villagers.

Last night Mr Garnett said: “Local people care passionately about getting this speed reduced.”

Romsey and Southampton North MP Caroline Nokes also backed changes at Landford and said: “A consistent speed limit along the more built up parts of the road would certainly reduce confusion and make the road safer for residents and road users alike.”