A CAMPAIGN has been started to reduce animal accidents by slowing traffic on a busy road linking New Milton with the A35.

Spurred on by a collision which led to the death of a New Forest pony on the B3058 between Wootton and Holmsley, Paul and Carmen Donohoe want an extension of the 30mph limit and traffic calming.

They also want a weight restriction and for lorries to be directed further south, either along the B3055 to Stem Lane or via Walkford to New Milton’s industrial areas, well away from ponies and cattle.

Mr Donohoe has written to New Forest East MP Julian Lewis, local councillors and Hampshire County Council in a bid to get his proposals for Holmsley Road considered.

He said: “Drivers, both local and from outside the area, do not seem to have any perception of how unpredictable these animals are, or how easily they can become agitated due to traffic noise and sudden movement.

“They can bolt across the forest roads at a moment’s notice.”

The current 40mph speed limit there is too fast for drivers to stop in time,” he said.

In addition, there are parts of Holmsley Road that are fenced and “there is only one way for verge grazing animals to bolt: straight into the road”.

County council leader Cllr Ken Thornber said he fully appreciates their concerns but “at the present time, there are no plans to introduce traffic calming here or to reduce the speed limit”.

“Generally, traffic calming measures are considered for roads where there has been a number of accidents resulting in personal injury and, thankfully, this is not common on Holmsley Road,” he said.

Weight restrictions are generally applied where more suitable routes are available.

“However, Holmsley Road is a B-class road and the alternative route to Bashley and New Milton from the A35 is via Bashley Cross Road, a similar standard B-class road, and therefore does not provide a significantly better way of routing HGVs.”