CAMPAIGNERS have scored a major victory in their fight to reduce fatal crashes on the A3057 around King's Somborne.

Hampshire's road chiefs have agreed to a raft of improvements in a bid to slow down speeding motorists and make the A3057 between Stockbridge and Romsey safer.

Providing there are no objections from road-users or the public in general, the proposals could be in place by the autumn.

The scheme includes a 40mph speed limit through Brook, where there have been numerous accidents, including fatalities.

Gateway-style entrances are also planned for the tiny village.

New 50mph and 40mph speed limits between Timsbury and Romsey are also proposed.

Resident and road safety campaigner Anthony de Sigley said: "This is very good news. What is proposed is a very pragmatic approach and I am fully in support of the measures that are proposed and will be delighted when they are introduced. Residents of Brook are delighted and I expect those in Compton are too.

"Most people drive this road in a sensible manner but there are those who don't." A fatal crash involving an Andover motorcyclist outside Mr de Sigley's home in 2003 led to him calling on road bosses to improve safety for road users and pedestrians.

Mr de Sigley praised King's Somborne Parish Council chairman, David Bidwell, for his part in the campaign for improvements.

"He's done a marvellous job," said the businessman.

Hampshire's deputy leader Mike Woodhall and the county engineers were also praised for the work they had done to bring the project to this stage.

Mr de Sigley added: "So much work has been done in a very short time."

He added: "People don't get together very much in Brook because the road is a barrier."

However, he hoped this would change when the improvements are carried out.

David Bidwell, who first started his campaign for improvements at King's Somborne 10 years ago when he became a parish councillor, said: "I started this off in King's Somborne and it's gradually been expanding along the A3057. The proposals achieve our basic objectives and it is a major first step forward. Saving lives must come before anything else. I am delighted that, after many years, one of my crusades is proving successful. One of the key issues will be enforcing the speed limits."

Tomorrow(Saturday) the plans will be on display at King's Somborne Village Hall between 10am and noon.

At least five people have died in crashes in the last five years between the Mottisfont turning and Stockbridge, where some of the new measures are planned.

Councillor Woodhall said: "When these plans are implemented it should herald a new era of driver awareness on this increasingly busy road connecting the northern part of Test Valley with Romsey."

Figures show there were 85 casualties recorded on the A3057 between Romsey and Stockbridge over a three-year period and county engineers have put up signs to this effect in a bid to alert drivers using the busy main route through the Test Valley.