A COUPLE have launched a campaign to reduce the speed of traffic passing their home following two crashes in just a few months.

In January, Gillian and David Noble and their two children had a lucky escape after a car smashed into an outbuilding next to their home in The Street, Old Basing.

At the time, Mrs Noble said the accident highlighted traffic problems in Old Basing, which is used as a rat-run by drivers.

Now, another car has crashed on the other side of her home, causing severe damage to an electricity pole.

Mrs Noble said the crash happened at about 1am on Saturday morning, resulting in the car flipping over and landing upside down.

She said: “That’s twice it could have gone into our house. It does worry me.”

Her husband has set up a campaign website calling for the speed limit to be reduced through the village to 20mph.

Mr Noble, who runs a financial services business, said: “Local councils now have the power to introduce 20mph speed limits. Hampshire County Council has a plan to roll out these in appropriate locations across the county. Unfortunately the time scales keep being pushed back and locations for pilot schemes do not include Old Basing.

“The extra volume of traffic coming through the village because of the work at the Black Dam Roundabout has made matters worse – even when the work is complete habits are being created that will be difficult to stop.”

As part of the campaign Mr and Mrs Noble are asking villagers to distribute flyers and are asking for volunteers to join a committee to run the campaign.

For more information visit safer-roads-for-old-basing.org.

Councillor Seán Woodward, executive member for economy, transport and environment at Hampshire County Council, said: “We receive records of road traffic accidents which result in injury from Hampshire police on a regular basis and all accidents are included in regular analysis we carry out to identify how we can improve road safety.”

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