Beauty route to get 'livestock' signs

Ewe need to take care

New portable electronic road ‘matrix signs’ are to be placed on the road over Bodmin Moor, containing warnings for drivers, such as images of sheep.

Four huge signs are going onto a stretch of the A30 over the moor between Jamaica Inn and Helland. They are permanent additions to the landscape.

National Highways has paid for them, but they've been put in place by that body along with Devon & Cornwall Police and Bodmin Moor Commons Council.

It's because more animals are getting onto the carriageway from the moor, causing a danger. Last year more than 200 incidents of livestock on the section of road were reported.

The emergency signs can be turned on remotely by National Highways staff in a 24/7 control room in response to incidents such as emergency road conditions, road hazards and livestock on the road.

According to the Department for Transport, hundreds of people are injured every year in the UK, in collisions involving animals on the road.  Dave Langley, road casualty reduction officer for Devon & Cornwall Police said: “On the short Bodmin Moor section of the A30 during 2022 there were 222 incidents recorded where livestock had strayed onto the highway. Since the formation of our working group partnership this number has been significantly reduced.”

Chris Collins, rural affairs police officer explained: “Like any rural area we have our own unique challenges to consider with regards to rural road safety.  A 12-mile section of the A30 runs through the heart of Bodmin Moor encompassing vast areas of agriculture and common grazing land home to wildlife and livestock including cattle, sheep and ponies. Naturally animals move across the land to graze and may access the road where fencing has been damaged or access points left insecure.

“Working in partnership National Highways, we reviewed and improved areas of the Moor's common land fencing and it has enabled Cornwall to access four new matrix signs, which will be used on Bodmin Moor’s stretch of the A30 permanently.”

Julie Dowton, The Bodmin Moor Commons Council livestock welfare officer added: “Unfortunately, livestock for a number of reasons can find their way onto the A30. Living on the moor we know how weather conditions can change quickly and dramatically and all too often can catch drivers out. The ability to warn people of hazards whether that be livestock, weather or anything else is important and we have no doubt the new matrix warning signs will make the Bodmin Moor stretch of the A30 much safer for all.”