A PETITION to change the speed limit of unfenced roads on Dartmoor is gathering momentum — and now has the support of West Devon and Torridge MP Geoffrey Cox.

Dartmoor resident Isobel Parris started a paper petition a few months ago requesting that all unfenced areas within the Dartmoor National Park have a maximum speed limit of 40mph due to the rising number of animal deaths on the roads.

Within a week of starting a paper petition, which soon progressed to an online petition, Isobel received 4,700 signatures. Now she has more than 8,500 signatures online and on paper combined.

Many areas within Dartmoor National Park already have a speed restriction of 40mph but there are many unfenced areas in the park where animals freely graze that remain at 60mph.

Isobel, who has lived in the area for over 30 years, started the petition after she became distressed at the death of a foal in a 60mph area. The foal was less than a week old when she was hit.

She has since lobbied Devon County Council and Mr Cox to fightg to to lower the speed limit to 40mph across the moor.

‘I contacted our MP [Geoffrey Cox] who replied stating that he is also concerned with the numbers of animals being killed and injured,’ added Isobel. ‘He has contacted Dartmoor National Park, the police, Devon County Council highways and the Dartmoor Commoners Council.

‘We must resolve this problem for all of these animals.’

Isobel added that so far this year 143 animals had been involved in road traffic accidents, with 17 dead and four injured ponies or foals, 99 dead and 11 injured sheep and lambs and five dead and seven injured cows or calves.

‘I addressed a full Devon County Council meeting in Exeter on October 4 and the presentation was well received,’ said Isobel.

‘I was advised that if I could get 7,000 signatures on my paper petition the speeding and animal death problem would have to be debated in the chamber.

‘Clearly animal welfare is paramount and measures must be taken to help ensure their safety. Surely also entering the equation must be the fact that Dartmoor relies on tourists and injured or dead animals on the roads are not the type of scenery that we should be offering.’

Mr Cox said: ‘The issue of speeding on Dartmoor, and the resulting increase in the number of animal fatalities, has long been a concern of mine. In response, I have made representations to various stakeholders including Devon and Cornwall Police, Devon County Council (DCC) and the Dartmoor National Park Authority, urging them to take action.

‘My understanding is that this is now an issue of key concern for the police and that they are liaising with Highways England, DCC and the Dartmoor Commoners’ Council, to consider ways to manage speed and anti-social driving on Dartmoor. Although there is still some way to go, I am assured that steps are being taken to address this issue.’

Recently the Times reported that animal deaths on the 40mph roads monitored by Dartmoor Speedwatch had decreased but had risen in other areas. Dartmoor Speedwatch is also calling for a 40mph speed limit to be introduced on all unfenced roads across Dartmoor.