A FATAL accident on a busy Waterside road will spark calls for action at a public meeting tonight.

Campaigners who raised a 4,600-signature petition want Hampshire County Council to provide pedestrians with a safe route across the A326, which separates Waterside parishes from the New Forest.

The petition was launched in December amid growing fears for the safety of walkers and horse riders attempting to reach the Forest.

As reported in the Daily Echo, one of the first people to sign it was dog walker Frank Harrison, 83, of Noads Way, Dibden Purlieu, who was later killed in an accident near the Heath Hotel roundabout.

Speakers at tonight's meeting are likely to include Hythe and Dibden county councillor Brian Dash.

He told the Daily Echo: "The Waterside is isolated from the New Forest by the A326 and there is clearly a need for a crossing.

"It would protect schoolchildren doing cross-country runs, people walking their dogs or going for a ramble, and riders attempting to cross the road with their horses."

Petition organiser Irene Plascott said a representative from the British Horse Society would be at the meeting.

Campaigners are pressing for a bridge or an underpass to be provided near the spot where residents cross the A326 to reach Dibden Inclosure.

Mrs Plascott added: "The county council has done a survey and I'm hoping that something positive will come out of tonight's meeting.

"If we don't get a result, we will take it further ourselves."

The petition was presented to the February meeting of Hythe and Dibden Parish Council, which shares the residents' concern and is hosting tonight's meeting.

A county council spokesman said: "We're going to listen to people's concerns.

"What we say will be driven by what's raised by those attending."

The meeting will take place at St Andrew's Church Hall in Beaulieu Road, Dibden Purlieu, at 7pm.