VILLAGERS near Winchester have tasted victory in a long-running battle against speeding cars and lorries.

For four decades, people in Colden Common fought for a lower speed limit along their main road, which will now be implemented as part of a £200,000 traffic scheme.

Hampshire County Council has approved measures to improve safety on the B3354.

The scheme has been in the pipeline following a similar scheme in nearby Twyford.

The new measures include:

a 30mph speed limit, down from 40mph

gateways at the southern and northern ends of the village

four pedestrian central islands

two traffic islands

widened splitter islands on the Church Lane roundabout

a new edge of carriageway lining to visually narrow the road.

Public consultation was carried out in October last year, with 79 per cent of respondents supporting the proposals.

Colden Common Parish Council chairman Richard Izard said: "We have been waiting for this for years. We are all very happy. The biggest gain is the 30mph limit, which was news to us. We have been trying for it for at least 40 years but it was news that it had been agreed."

Keith Estlin, the county council's executive member for environment, said: "This scheme aims to improve the walking environment for pedestrians, with the knock-on effect of reducing reliance on cars for short local trips.

"Residents who responded to the public consultation were very supportive of the proposals, and I'd ask them to bear with us while work is underway."

Work is scheduled to begin in December with completion in February 2005.