More than 56,000 sign petition calling for average speed cameras on New Forest roads

There's been another spate of animal deaths

Ponies close to the roadside at Godshill, on Roger Penny Way
Author: Henrietta CreaseyPublished 15th Sep 2021

Support is continuing to grow over calls to install average speed cameras on key roads in the New Forest in a bid to protect livestock.

On Saturday night (11th Sept) two ponies and one cow died in three separate incidents - all the drivers involved reported the collisions.

In a post on social media New Forest Roads Awareness says it was an upsetting evening

"This was a truly bad night, and a good reminder that, as the nights close in, ANYONE who drives across the New Forest has to be so careful. Speed is not always the issue. Headlights and that blind spot moment between high and low beam can put you at danger."

Meanwhile on Thursday 9th September a donkey was killed in a hit and run on the B3078 not far from Telegraph Hill, whilst the following day a donkey was left injured in another accident.

'STOP SENSELESS ANIMAL DEATHS'

A petition calling for average speed cameras was set up by Sarah Weston from Woodgreen after her pony Juma was killed in a collision in August.

It's now gathered more than 56,000 signatures.

Juma suffered two broken legs and internal injuries and died at the scene on the 7th August

Sarah wants to see the devices on the busiest roads and accident black spot like Roger Penny Way where Juma died.

She told Greatest Hits Radio the devices would make a big difference:

"They aren't going to catch every single speeder because they are average speed cameras but they should put people off driving at the sort of speeds we see particularly at night. We know there's a correlation between the number of people speeding and the number of animals killed."

Last year 50 animals died on the New Forest roads including 29 ponies.

Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app.