A SAFETY campaigner has renewed her criticism of a busy village commuter road which she claims is dangerous because it is crumbling.

Villagers have been pressing for improvements to Titchfield Road, Stubbington, for about nine years because of increasing traffic, which has been blamed for the death of a boy last May.

The road was closed at the weekend to carry out repairs after private sewers collapsed, evidence the road is in poor condition, claim residents.

This summer, villagers staged a protest on the road after the death of Daniel Beveridge, 13. He died after the hydraulic arm of a lorry struck him while he was walking home from school.

Protesters laid floral tributes at the accident scene and marched the length of the road with banners outlining their demands.

Campaigners want a ban on lorries, a 20mph speed limit and a village bypass.

They say the road is too narrow, and of sub-standard build quality to take the level and weight of traffic.

Sonja Blackman, of Titchfield Road, wants the road dug up and reinforced. Fareham council engineer Geoff Williams agreed to her request to inspect the structure of the dug up highway.

She said: "I've been told time and time again there's nothing wrong with the road by the county council.

"But we all know the clay foundations are inadequate, so the surface breaks up and sinks.

"This makes it dangerous to drive on and contributes to bad driving, making accidents more likely. The collapsing of the sewers proves our point.

"Perhaps Mr Williams will finally see the evidence himself, and something will be done. We're all trying to avoid another serious accident.''

The county council said the road did not have a particularly high accident record. It is investigating the possibility of a pedestrian crossing and is building a "gateway", emphasising the beginning of the 30mph limit.

A traffic and pedestrian movement survey is being analysed to decide on further improvements.

Police regularly crack down on speeding and Fareham council is monitoring problems.