TEST Valley residents are to be randomly quizzed about their views on lowering speed limits in rural villages.

In a week-long telephone poll, starting today, people will be contacted and asked about setting lower speed limits - particularly in rural areas. Parish councils have already been requested to fill in questionnaires about changes to existing speed limits and where new ones should go as part of a countywide review of speed restrictions in rural villages.

The survey is aimed at helping highway bosses compile three priority lists - one where villages already have a 40 or 50mph speed limit and there are calls for a lower limit to be set, and the second where there is no speed limit at all and the third where there are a range of limits including a 30mph stretch where people wish to see changes made.

A total of 1,650 residents across Hampshire will be contacted randomly by telephone in a survey conducted by ICM Research. Each person contacted will be asked if they are happy to receive the call on behalf of the county council.

Hampshire's cabinet has agreed to carry out a review of speed limits in line with government recommendations.

County and cabinet leader Ken Thornber, said: "The results will provide valuable and statistically robust information on public opinion that will assist when considering which areas should have the highest priority for inclusion in the 2007/8 programme."

Members of the county council's project board aim to prioritise villages with the greatest identified need for a 30mph limit, taking into account results from the survey, the town or parish council's expressions of interest and the village's current speed limits. The board will look at requests next month.