CAMPAIGNERS are today celebrating a major breakthrough in their battle for improvements to a notorious Hampshire road where a teenage girl lost her life.

Civic chiefs have secured a meeting with a Government minister following the death of Jade Clark, who was killed in an accident on the A31 near Ringwood two months ago.

Town councillors had already raised a 1,000-name petition protesting about the “appalling”

accident rate on the busy dual carriageway.

Members want the 70mph speed limit between Picket Post and the Ashley Heath roundabout to be cut to 50mph following a spate of crashes.

They are also calling for several other measures, including better signage to help drivers get into the correct lane.

Earlier this year the Highways Agency rejected calls for a lower speed limit, claiming not enough people had been killed or seriously injured to justify a reduction.

Huge support Just days later 16-year-old Jade was riding her moped when she was killed in a collision with a car.

Now councillors have been granted access to Stephen Hammond, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport and the minister responsible for road safety.

New Forest West MP Desmond Swayne and representatives from the Highways Agency will also attend the meeting, which is expected to take place in London before the summer.

Cllr Michael Thierry, who represents Ringwood, said: “This is one of the key things the council has been seeking.

“It will enable us to go to the minister with a shopping list of things that need to be done and hopefully make some progress.

“We’ve only got this far because of the tremendous support we have received from residents and other local authorities.

“I’m delighted that we now have an opportunity to sit down with the minister, and representatives from the Highways Agency, to see if we can take this forward.”

Cllr Steve Rippon-Swaine, who also represents Ringwood, described Mr Hammond’s decision to meet campaigners as excellent news.

He added: “We’ve got a list of incidents on the A31 and want to see safety measures now.

“We hope the minister will make it a high priority.”

Jade, of Ringwood, was on her way to a party in nearby St Ives when she was killed on the evening of February 24.

Speaking a few days later, Hampshire’s police and crime commissioner Simon Hayes, said he was “disturbed” by Jade’s death and “shared the concerns”

of local residents and motorists.

The Highways Agency subsequently agreed to review its earlier decision not to reduce the speed limit on the A31.

-A health and safety consultant has appeared in court in connection with Jade’s accident.

Brian Hampton has been charged with causing death by careless driving, driving while disqualified, driving without insurance and failing to stop after an accident.

Police have also seized a Volvo XC90.

Hampton, 58, of Hornash Lane in Shadoxhurst, near Ashford in Kent, has been remanded in custody.