A CALL has been made for a blanket 30mph speed limit on unfenced forest roads in a bid to stop the tragic toll on their ponies and cattle.

Last year 73 animals belonging to commoners – ponies, cattle, donkeys and pigs – lost their lives as a result of collisions with vehicles on unfenced roads.

Last year’s total was the lowest since records began in 1956, but it is still far too high for the New Forest Commoners Defence Association, whose members lose valuable stock because drivers take no care.

In 1990 the 40mph speed limit was introduced on unfenced roads north of the A31 and two years later its success meant it was put into place in the south.

There have been numerous driver awareness schemes in recent years, but some still travel at excessive speeds.

Commoners’ Defence spokesman Mike Eccles called for the Verderers’ support for a reduction to 30mph.

He said changes to several speed limits on A roads on the edge of the forest had “eroded the differential”.

“When peak commuter traffic causes congestion on our main and arterial roads, alternative routes identified by sat-nav and rat-run activity inevitably target the open forest roads,” he said.

“Accidents involving ponies and livestock increase at these peak commuter times.”

Lyndhurst bypass plans had again failed and drivers use other routes to avoid the bottleneck.

Other initiatives had been tried to raise awareness, he said.

“However, ultimately excessive speed and a lack of understanding and respect for forest animals is the prime cause of accidents involving them,” he said.

The AA’s head of road safety, Andrew Howard, said: “It intrigues me because I would have thought that 40 would have seemed reasonable on these roads and I would have thought that 30 would seem too slow.

“One of the big things that come out of talking to drivers is that they are compliant with what seems to be a reasonable speed on the road.”