A notorious ford on the Hampshire and West Berkshire border could soon be shut to traffic in a bid to improve safety.

Headley Ford, just north of Plastow Green, has seen numerous incidents of people getting stuck in the water in recent years.

A 52-year-old man, Jonathan Gammon, died in April 2012 when he became trapped in his car as he tried to cross the ford during flash floods.

A traffic order was implemented in 2014 prohibiting vehicles from using the ford except for access, but has been repeatedly ignored, partly due to satellite navigation devices leading drivers through it.

And last week Hampshire County Council and West Berkshire Council launched a consultation on whether to install gates on either side of the ford to physically stop motorists from using it.

Hampshire executive member for environment and transport, Rob Humby, said: “We have been working with West Berkshire Council, local people who use the road and local landowners on managing Headley Ford.

“We plan to implement a permanent scheme in two parts: a traffic regulation order to prevent non-agricultural vehicles accessing the ford, and the installation of a turning head on either side of the restriction, which will require drivers to get out of their vehicles to operate a gate.

“Access for walkers, horse riders and cyclists will still be possible once the new measures are in place.”

The new order will run until October, and will see farm traffic able to use the ford, while approximately 400m of Thornford Road through the ford will also be made accessible for tractors.

Billy Drummond, West Berkshire councillor for Greenham, was pleased that something was being done to close off the ford.

He said: “It should have been done years ago.

“I’ve got a sat nav and some mornings it tries to send me up that way, it’s really dangerous.

“Sometimes it seems like it’s not too bad but people have had terrible accidents there, it’s a nightmare and it needs to be sorted out.”

To view the proposals or to comment, go to westberks.gov.uk/consultations.