7:00am Friday 6th November 2009
STRONGER safety measures are being taken to slow down traffic through a Hampshire village where a schoolboy lost his life last year.
Keen cricketer Aarron Keeping was killed on September 30 last year after a collision with a car outside the Crown Inn in Bransgore in the New Forest.
The 12-year-old Ringwood School pupil’s death prompted Bransgore Parish Council, with the backing of local residents, to step up its campaign for improvements at the notorious crossroads.
A 30mph limit was introduced in August to slow down the traffic often using the route from the Cat and Fiddle to Ringwood Road as a rat run.
Now parish councillors have met Hampshire County Council officers to discuss the latest measures, which include anti-skid surfacing and hatching markings at the approaches to the junction.
Parish council chairman Ann Hickman said: “Everyone is really pleased with the plans. It is over a year since Aarron was killed but we have been battling for 20 or 30 years to do something.
It is just tragic that it had to take Aarron’s death to get action.”
But Aarron’s mother, Freda Keeping said: “I don’t think they are going to make much difference.
Something more drastic is needed, like traffic lights to make it safer down there.
“Obviously any improvements to slow down the traffic and make that junction safer will be better than nothing. I know they are going to be reviewing the work so it will be interesting to see what effect they have.”
Hampshire county councillor Mel Kendal, executive member for environment, said: “We will also be enhancing two pedestrian crossing points – one on Ringwood Road and the other on Burley Road.
“Additionally, pinch points will be added to the Burley Road, which should also serve to reduce vehicle speeds at that junction.”
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