Hampshire County Council is refusing calls to lower the speed limit in North Waltham, despite protests from councillors and residents.

The council told The Gazette that reducing the limit to 20mph through the village, to the south west of Basingstoke, would require costly traffic calming measures.

A spokesman for the authority, whose head offices are based in Winchester, said that a pilot programme conducted over a ten-year period on 20mph speed limits found that they did not result in significant changes in driver behaviour and caused very little reduction in speeds.

Cllr Russell Oppenheimer, executive member for Highways Operations, said: “I know from experience that speeding through villages causes inconvenience and distress to residents.

"I would urge all drivers to think about the impact of their speed and slow down when passing through villages.

"While we cannot support a permanent 20mph speed limit in North Waltham, our safer roads team has proposed implementing a school advisory 20mph limit.

He continued: "This is not mandatory but can help to encourage drivers to moderate their travelling speed at the start and end of the school day, when pupils are walking or cycling to school.”

The comments from the authority will come as a disappointment to villagers who gathered for a protest on Wednesday, June 9.

They were joined by county councillor Juliet Henderson who supported their calls.

The group previously described Hampshire County Council's refusal to introduce the 20mph speed limit as "scandalous".

Hugo Ward, the man behind the demo, said: “I have two young children and I am terrified for their safety. Many of the village roads are single lane, there are few pavements.

"I find it scandalous that Hampshire County Council continues to refuse a 20mph restriction in the village—especially when 90 per cent of villagers support this.”