Owner of killed New Forest pony begs for action as road deaths spike
AS NEW figures reveal a big rise in animal accidents in the New Forest during 2018, the owner of the latest pony to die on the roads has called for speed reductions and more signs to reduce the carnage.
Last year saw a 15% increase in the number of accidents involving commoners’ stock, despite concerted efforts to raise awareness of the dangers on local routes.
Pictured above is the aftermath of a collision on the Burley to Picket Post road on Monday night between a Ford Transit van and a mare owned by commoner Claire Leighton.
Other motorists, including a vet, stopped to help and although the animal was initially able to get up, it became clear it was badly injured and had to be put down by an agister.
Posting on the New Forest Roads Campaign Facebook page, Claire mourned the loss of one of her “lovely mares”, and wrote of her fury at travelling on the same road the following evening only to be overtaken by another van going at over 60mph.
Despite often getting abusive responses when she flashes speeding motorists, she challenged the van driver when they both stopped in a queue at Burley to remind him the speed limit was 40mph.
“I have now decided enough is enough and any death is one too many,” said Claire. “As we know, in the season leading up to the foaling and calving we have animals that, if hit, means two deaths.
“The impact and abuse of the traffic loads and speeds really now needs confronting head on with a campaign which needs to get the council to put in place much better signage, clearer notices showing animals, and asking for speed reductions on all roads that lead on/off to A roads.
“When people get killed then action gets taken. Our animals are part of the heritage of the New Forest and they have the right to roam, but sadly they are at high risk every day.
“Much more campaigning needs to be voiced by all of us who want to see change.”
The statistics, which were revealed at a meeting of the Verderers’ Court on Wednesday morning, showed a 15% increase in overall accidents and a 14% increase in fatalities and injuries of commoners’ stock compared to the 2017 figures.
Speaking at the meeting, verderers clerk Sue Westwood revealed that the agisters attended 154 accidents in 2018 compared to 134 accidents in 2017.
Miss Westwood said that altogether 38 ponies, 12 cattle, five donkeys, five pigs and three sheep died on the roads in 2018, and a further 11 ponies, eight cattle, six donkeys and one pig were injured.
It also emerged that 30 of the accidents were recorded as hit-and-runs because they were not reported by the driver involved.
She said: “Seventeen animals were uninjured and 48 animals that were reported to have been in an accident could not be located.
“One accident involved a motorcycle and one involved a bicycle.”
The increase comes despite the efforts of a number of Forest groups including the verderers, national park authority and Commoners’ Defence Association.
There has also been ongoing social media publicity from the New Forest Roads Campaign, which runs a dedicated Facebook page reporting accidents and statistics.
Campaign spokesperson Gilly Jones said: “One of our greatest concerns is the number of animals that have been killed or injured in hit-and-runs. The thought of animals just being left on the side of the road to die in agony is shocking.
“People certainly wouldn’t just drive off if they hit a child and most people would stop if they hit a dog – so why is it any different for ponies and cattle?”
Ms Jones revealed that County Watch police officers were now carrying out nightly speed checks on the B3078 Roger Penny Way, and in just two days officers had issued 10 tickets, one of which was to a driver travelling at 58mph.
She said: “When you cross the cattle grid you have a responsibility as a driver to give way and be aware that you will encounter Forest stock. I just wish drivers would engage their brains when they are in the Forest and take their responsibilities seriously.
“Even people who are not too concerned about the animals might want to think about the damage to their cars if they hit a cow or pony.”
Ms Jones said in the last week she had personally cleaned every animal warning sign along the Roger Penny Way between Cadnam and Godshill, and pledged to continue publishing accident reports and photographs on the New Forest Roads Campaign Facebook page.
The 2018 statistics showed that 96 of the accidents had taken place in the dark, 41 in day light hours and 17 at twilight. Miss Westwood also revealed that 41 of the motorists involved were known to be local.
The Commoners’ Defence Association (CDA), which represents the interests of New Forest livestock owners, described the latest statistics as “very disappointing”, but pointed out that part of the perceived increase was down to an exceptionally low number of accidents in 2017.
CDA chairman Tony Hockley said: “Every animal that is killed is a serious loss to the owners – particularly as New Forest Ponies are now recognised as a rare breed and the whole landscape of the Forest is dependent on their grazing.”
Dr Hockley said throughout 2018 the CDA had been involved in a number of initiatives aimed at reducing accidents, including fitting reflective tags on cows’ ears and increasing the reward for information on hit-and-run drivers from £1,000 to £5,000.
He said the CDA had also been working in partnership with the verderers, the national park authority and the police to push Hampshire County Council for average speed cameras to be installed on the worst animal accident hotspot – the B3078 Roger Penny Way.
Dr Hockley continued: “We will keep pushing the message that drivers just need to make small changes and add three minutes to their journey to make the roads safer. We are committed to keeping up our efforts and constantly looking for new ways to make the roads safer and spread the message that motorists need to be aware and vigilant.”
Last week, two ponies were killed and a cow was injured and had to be destroyed.
On Monday 7th January the black cow was injured on the B3078 at Bramshaw Telegraph at around 6.52am and subsequently had to be put down.
Just minutes later at 7.10am a motorist reported colliding with a pony close to the junction of the A35 and the C10 at Burley, but the animal could not be found.
The following day a black mare was killed on the B3055 at Little Wood around 6.10pm.
On Sunday 13th a roan mare was killed on the B3079 between Lords Oak and Bramshaw after being struck by a vehicle at 5.40am, and later the same day a driver reported colliding with a black cow on the B3056 at Denny Corner at around 5.15pm. The animal could not be found.
