COUNCILLORS have called for more to be done to stop residents speeding on the roads in and around Andover.

The calls were made by several councillors during an Andover Town Council meeting held on Wednesday, 8 February. 

During the meeting, councillors discussed a report containing data extracted from Speed Indicator Devices (SID) set up around the town, which left many councillors shocked. 

The report stated that the council has so far purchased two of the devices, with one in operation and a second one anticipated.

The first SID became operational in November 2022 on London Road and since then has been on Winchester Road and Salisbury Road.

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Recent data recorded in the report shows that on average 4,443 vehicles used Winchester Road each day from December 10, 2022, to January 6 this year.

The highest speed recorded on the 30-mile-per-hour limit road was a shocking 65 miles per hour on December 26 at 1.20am. The data also reveals that 1,568 drivers on average drove above the speed limit with 144 vehicles travelling on average at 41-45 miler per hour.

The data in the report for Salisbury Road did not provide councillors with much more reassurance. On average 4,866 drivers travelled above the 30-speed limit between January 7 and January 18 this year.

Cllr Richard Rowles said: "This I found horrific. This is exactly why my idea was to have one on every major road and now you can see why."

He said that the number of children having to cross the road to go to school is increasing so "more pressure" needs to be put on getting more signs.

The view was shared by Cllr Jason Sangster, he added: "We are really pushing the SID. It is noticeable every day, you see people driving at different speeds around schools and it is a real focus. I think we should invest more time and resources in keeping people safe on the roads and animals."

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Cllr Robin Hughes said he thinks the council needs to work more closely with traffic police and "get them to do proper enforcement" for a real improvement to be seen.

Cllr Luigi Gregori added: "I think the issue is whether police are actually doing anything to enforce speeding. There is very little enforcement.

"If you look at other areas like Whitchurch that has a 20-limit and I think we are not being treated equally as other councils are."

The town clerk Gail Foster said the council is working with Hampshire Hampshire County Council to approve more SID sites.