Road safety call to avoid Gloucestershire cattle deaths

Cllr John Bloxsom said a lower speed limit needs to be introduced to avoid cattle and horse injuries and deaths

Calls have been made for more road safety measures to prevent horses and cattle being injured or killed by vehicles.

It comes as four cows died during the last grazing season after being hit in on Minchinhampton and Rodborough Commons.

A motion about the issue is expected to be discussed at a Gloucestershire County Council meeting later.

Cllr John Bloxsom said: "Four deaths in a year is not acceptable."

Rodborough Cllr Bloxsom, who is bringing forward the motion alongside Minchinhampton Cllr Chloe Turner, told BBC Radio Gloucestershire: "Fundamentally we need a lower speed limit and we need some physical measures in order to slow traffic down."

Cllr Bloxsom said the current measures were not adequate

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), proposals also includes setting up a task group with councillors from Minchinhampton, Nailsworth and Rodborough, along with the highways, environment and community safety cabinet members.

Cllr Bloxsom said "grazing is fundamental to the nature" of the area which is "internationally protected" and features rare species of wildlife including butterflies.

"If the grazing stops, then those things will stop as well. The nature of the commons will change irreversibly," he added.

Cllr Bloxsom said the current measures, which include slow 'cattle in the road' signs, make "graziers, who care for the welfare of the animals, much more hesitant" about whether they can sustain their historic grazing rights.

He added the signs have not proved to be adequate in protecting cattle and horses.

The motion will be discussed at a county council meeting later.