DOZENS of bikers are due to stage a mass rally tomorrow to demand improvements to a notorious Hampshire road following three deaths last summer.

Relatives of the victims will join members of the Southampton Motorcycle Action Group (SMAG) when they converge on Hampshire County Council’s headquarters in Winchester.

Bikers will hand in a 2,500- name petition calling for urgent action to cut the accident rate on the A326 Totton to Hardley road.


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The petition was raised following two fatal collisions that occurred just weeks apart.

Last August Terry Stubbs, 29, and his 11-year-old stepdaughter Channon Kevern, both of Fawley, were killed in a collision with a car on the Hythe to Hardley stretch of the road.

The following month Tim Reynolds, 51, of Whittington Close, Hythe, died at the junction of the A326 and Twiggs Lane, Marchwood.

SMAG staged a public meeting at which Channon’s heartbroken mother Nicol called for the road to be made safer to prevent more tragedies.

County council leader Ken Thornber also attended the meeting and pledged a raft of improvements, including better signs, improved markings and upgraded traffic islands.

But bikers are going to Winchester tomorrow to repeat their demand for improvements to the A326, which has seen a total of eight deaths in the past four years.

Their journey from Hardley to Winchester will take them past the tragic spots where Channon, her stepdad and Mr Reynolds were killed.

The presentation of the petition will be attended by Mr Reynolds’ mother Beryl and several other members of his family. Mr Stubbs’ mother Julie will also be present.

Event organiser Maggie Gwynne said: “We want to keep up the pressure and make sure the county council do all the things they promised. They’ve cut back the trees at Twiggs Lane and closed one of the laybys, but there’s a huge amount more to do.”

A county council spokesman said the authority was exploring several options, including lower speed limits, and a ban on right turns at certain junctions.