PCC to discuss New Forest speeding and animal accidents

Donna Jones, the new Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, visited the New Forest to discuss issues including rural crime and antisocial behaviour.

During her tour she met the leader of New Forest District Council (NFDC), Cllr Edward Heron, who is also a councillor on Hampshire County Council (HCC), and the Official Verderer, Lord Manners.

Councillor Edward Heron with PCC Donna Jones and Lord Manners

They discussed calls for average speed cameras to be installed on the B3078 Roger Penny Way - a road where four ponies were killed by a Land Rover Discovery last December.

That same month three donkeys and two sheep were killed in two other accidents on the same route.

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In January, an online petition was set up on behalf of New Forest Roads Awareness calling on NFDC to "add its support to calls for the introduction of an average speed camera system on the B3078".

PCC Donna Jones said: “I had a really positive meeting with the leader of New Forest District Council and Official Verderer Lord Manners, about a range of issues that affect residents and businesses in this beautiful rural area.

"In regards to animal accidents and speeding, I committed to speaking to the Roads Policing Team and senior Hampshire Constabulary officers about how we can support them with reducing speeding on New Forest roads. After this, I’ll be writing to the Verderers with my official position on their proposals.”

Positive step forward

Cllr Heron said his meeting with the PCC was really "positive" and there was a "real will on her part to work together to try and find a solution".

He said the PCC wanted to have an opportunity to speak to her team before making any commitments.

"It is a very positive step forward," he said.

"There is a long way to go.

"If we hopefully now get past that step where all the key partners are in principle signed up to looking at an average speed camera system, we have then got the work to do on the technical feasibility.

"This was a key step in bring that last partner on board."

In principle there has been support from Hampshire County Council, New Forest District Council, New Forest National Park Authority, Verderers, Commoners Defence Association and Forestry England. Many parish councils have also come onboard with some even pledging funding.

However, Cllr Heron says in principle support was also needed from police.

The next step would be a feasibility study, which could cost around £30,000.

Drop in casualties

Cllr Heron added that casualties in the Forest have dropped over the years thanks to a number of step changes.

"The first one going way back was the griding of the Forest to stop the animals heading outside the Forest," he explained.

"Then the next big ones are the two 40mph limits that were put into place. We have now to some extent plateaued.

"Tragically, there will also be some accidents - we are never going to eliminate these. But there are a small number of routes that just stand out rather than an issue across the Forest actually you can see these outliers. This is the only sensible next step to try and address those."

"Tragically, this comes back into people's mind when there is another terrible accident. It is really important that this doesn't fall down between those tragic incidents," he added.

"I'm really pleased it is moving forward now particularly as we are coming out of a period where across the Forest we had slightly less than average accidents, which is really that it is still on everybody's radar now.

"It is going to be a journey to get there."

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