CAMPAIGNERS are asking how many more people must die before road chiefs take positive action to prevent further carnage on the A3057 through King's Somborne.

Five people have died in crashes on the A3057 in the last four years between the Mottisfont turning and Stockbridge's Steepleton Hill.

Residents living along the A3057 at Brook, King's Somborne and Steepleton Hill claim nothing is being done to reduce deaths.

And on Tuesday night campaigners will come face to face with Hampshire's road officials during a special meeting at King's Somborne Village Hall, arranged by Borough councillor and King's Somborne Parish Council chief David Bidwell.

He said: "The meeting stems from passionate pleas from people in Brook and Steepleton Hill saying lives are being put in jeopardy. There have been at least five people killed and dozens injured. People's lives are risk and the quality of people's lives has been reduced. Traffic is poorly managed along this stretch of road. Something has to be done and there are a lot of determined people out there to ensure something is," said a concerned Mr Bidwell.

He added: "I have walked along the edge of this road and it's absolutely terrifying. I am going to challenge Hampshire County Council officers and county councillor Michael Woodhall to walk along it without their high-visibility jackets. As to whether there should be a 30mph or 40mph speed limit is down to HCC officers but something must be done before more lives are lost and more people are maimed."

Mr Bidwell acknowledged that road chiefs had taken some steps to improve safety on the A3057 but like others involved in the campaign -- not enough. "Some things have already been done on the road going from King's Somborne to Steepleton Hill. More prominent bend warning signs have gone up," said Mr Bidwell.

Highway officials have been out on site looking at various ways to enhance the safety of motorists and pedestrians using the twisting A3057 between Mottisfont and Stockbridge. Businessman Anthony de Sigley lives at Brook, where there has been a number of crashes including a fatality involving a motorcyclist outside his home last year.

"There have been numerous rumours of proposed action; however, as yet there has been no tangible action or any firm indications that there will be. The saga continues," said Mr de Sigley, who would like to see a 30mph or 40 mph speed restriction imposed.

Mr de Sigley added: "Walking along this road is not a safe option. You take your life in your hands every time you use the road. It's not very good for social integration either. I have a three-year-old daughter and our neighbour has too. They rarely play together because of crossing the road. Currently this road is probable the biggest issue in Brook. There has been a lot of talk and little action."

During the last 12 months Mr de Sigley said there had been numerous accidents at Brook, where people had cheated death by a whisker. "There was a very serious accident between two cars just to the south of us but by a miracle no-one was seriously hurt. A cyclist was knocked off his bike on Brook Hill a couple of weeks ago. It's just a nightmare with people speeding up and down Brook Hill. Juggernauts certainly shouldn't be using a small, rural road like this. It's not suitable for large lorries," he added.

A Hampshire County Council spokeswoman said: "We are considering further safety measures on A3057, and this includes the investigation of possible speed limit changes which would include the section of road through Brook. No specific proposals have been formulated at this stage."