A PETITION of more than 500 signatures calling for the removal of the road humps in Pack Lane, Kempshott, was due to be presented to Basingstoke council at its annual meeting last night.

Handing in the protest was the first task of newly-elected Kempshott councillor Christine Heath - and her husband Cllr Phil Heath is to present the same petition to Hampshire County Council's Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, May 27.

The county council was responsible for putting in the humps, following a recommendation from Basingstoke council.

Cllr Mrs Heath said:"We have more than 500 signatures at present and 53 of those are residents of Pack Lane. And they all want the humps removed.

"All that was requested was a crossing point to the shops and the traffic to be slowed down a little. But they have gone completely over the top. The humps are too big - and there are 15 of them in the length of one road.

"In addition to the humps, there are two raised tables at the junctions with Brackley Way and Coniston Road. They are so big you have to brake as you drive off them - and you are immediately faced with another hump.

"Over 90 per cent of the communications I have received have been about the Pack Lane humps.

"I am not against traffic calming but I think this whole scheme needs to be re-appraised."

Cllr Phil Heath added: "People are saying that driving over so many humps is giving them back problems, not to mention damage to the suspension of their cars and them constantly needing re-tracking. And it is small family cars that are the worst hit - big cars and lorries just go around the humps at speed."

- A petition with 1,625 signatures to stop building on the Viables Craft Centre site was also due to be presented to Basingstoke council's annual meeting.

Richard Clewer, a Conservative candidate in the recent local elections, was due to present the petition. He said: "We are hoping to top the 2,000 mark by the end, but we are putting the petition in now because the decision on the future of Viables is due to be made in June, and this is the last council meeting before that."

Mr Clewer added: "People in the area feel very strongly about protecting this community facility."