AVERAGE speed cameras costing £677,000 are to be installed at the junction of two country roads popular with motorcyclists.

They will be sited where the A32 and A272 meet at West Meon Hut – north and south of the intersection on the A32, and east and west of it on the A272.

Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones approved funds for Hampshire Constabulary to buy the cameras and aims to have them working by the end of 2022.

They are used in pairs and a minimum time is set to pass between them, meaning road users cannot slow down before the first camera then speed again until they reach the second.

The measure is intended to stop motorists breaking the speed limit to pass through the traffic lights at West Meon Hut while they are changing – and having two cameras makes it easier to catch speeding motorcyclists, who do not need front number plates.

Police will also use mobile speed cameras and patrol the area to catch riders using noisy illegal exhausts.

Ms Jones said: “I have received consistent complaints from residents in the surrounding areas of the A32 and A272 in Meon Valley about the excessive motorbike noise and speeding, which is having a detrimental impact on their lives. Funding of these new cameras is a big step forward in delivering on my commitment to those residents.”

Next to West Meon Hut on the A32 is Loomies Moto Café, a favourite meeting place for bikers. The Herald asked Loomies to comment on the cameras but had not had a response at the time of going to press.

​Alistair Walker, managing director of Lower Farringdon BMW motorbike dealer Bahnstormer Motorrad Ltd, said: “Bikes are such an engaging and enjoyable way to travel and see the world.

“It is a shame they get a bad name for just one aspect of their ability – that they have the potential to go fast. We promote and organise track events for our customers who want to ride their bikes fast.

“Modern bikes such as those from BMW Motorrad are EU5 compliant, which governs emissions and noise, meaning there won’t be an inherent issue with them.

“Once the cameras are in place it will be intriguing to see the data on who the common offenders actually are.”