RINGWOOD councillors will discuss their response to roads minister Stephen Hammond’s decision not to reduce the speed limit on the A31 on Friday.

The 70mph to 50mph proposal was rejected last month in favour of improved signage, which the Highways Agency says will be installed on the notorious four mile stretch of road next year.

The minister’s letter will be considered by the council’s Planning, Town and Environment Committee before a response is agreed by the full council at the end of the month.

Councillor Michael Thierry said: “We know re-engineering the road won’t happen, and I doubt the signage will be in place by 2015.

“If the Highways Agency moved at the speed of traffic on the A31 there wouldn’t be a problem, but they tend to delay as much as possible.

“I think we have got to get back to the minister about the speed limit trial.

“He said it would cost a million pounds, but when they have roadworks they just put a few A-board signs out, they can’t cost £100,000 each.

“They claim these crashes aren’t caused by speed, but if you had a 90mph speed limit no crashes would be reported as being caused by speed.

“At 50mph the number with speed as a factor would be considerably higher.”

Figures released by Hampshire Police detail the causes of the 193 serious and minor collisions between Picket Post and Ashley Heath from January 2003 to December 2012.

The force, which compiled a report for Mr Hammond, blames driver error rather than speed for the crashes, with many taking place in heavy or stationary traffic.

Their analysis shows not one of the six fatal crashes was caused by excessive speed, and of 25 serious injury collisions, four of the causes relate to pedestrian actions with only one driver travelling too fast for the conditions, but not necessarily above 50mph.

One of the serious incidents involved a fight on a minibus full of young men, which spilled out into the road, and two men were hit by passing cars.

Police said 85 of the 162 more minor incidents took place during heavy traffic, with some a result of drivers failing to act quickly enough.

Cost of speed limit reduction

PART of the report to Ringwood councillors on the rejected speed limit reduction, says a trial scheme would cost £1.69million.

To put in new signage on the road from Picket Post to Ashley Heath will cost between £470,000 – £620,000.

Once funding is secured, it would be 12-18months before this is introduced, the report says.

Rejecting the 50mph proposal, Hampshire Police said they don’t believe drivers would not take notice of the reduction, putting “vulnerable” road users more at risk.

They also say the reduction would require police enforcement at a level “beyond their capacity”.

Dorset and Hampshire PCCs

SIMON Hayes, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire said: “I am disappointed that calls for the 50mph speed have been rejected, however I can appreciate the reasons why.

“I am pleased that the Minister has promised new signage by summer 2014. I will monitor the situation and speak to residents about their concerns.”

Martyn Underhill, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Dorset said: “I’m disappointed that the calls for the 50mph speed limit have been rejected but I welcome the pledge from the Minister for new signage by next summer.

“I will however, continue to campaign for the A31 to be re-engineered.”