MORE than 300 locals have got the hump over a traffic-calming scheme in a busy Eastleigh road that they say just doesn't work.

Now, people power has won the day and civic chiefs are set to take a long hard look at bringing in a 20mph speed limit for Shakespeare Road - and going back to square one with the calming scheme, which was introduced just over two years ago.

Presenting a petition signed by more than 300 people, resident Chris Thomas told the borough council that the rubber speed cushions were falling apart and failed to slow down vehicles with wide wheelbases.

Pleading for the council to look again at the traffic calming measures, he also called for an existing zebra crossing near Shakespeare Infant School to be replaced with a pelican crossing.

Mr Thomas said: "One of the children knocked down this year from the pre-school group was actually knocked down on the zebra crossing.

"We would like the committee to ask the police to actually look at the speed of vehicles along Shakespeare Road and vehicles that ignore the zebra crossing."

Committee chairman Steve Sollitt immediately launched a move to note the concerns of residents and take some action.

He said: "It has become very apparent, due to the large number of lorry movements along this road, that the cushions are not such a good idea. They don't slow traffic down and they disintegrate.

"Traffic calming has got to be robust enough so that vehicles will abide to a 20mph zone."

He added that bits of the rubber speed humps had flown off, exposed bolts were shredding tyres and the road surface was now breaking up.

Councillor Marilyn Birks said she was concerned about what had happened, adding: "We were very congratulatory when this scheme was put in but it clearly is not doing what it should have done."