I am pleased to report that I have now been invited to the Council meeting on 11th October where Average Speed Cameras are to be discussed. With a Council leader that is already behind a feasibility study, I am feeling very positive. However, it is the interface between these local, supporting organisations - The Verderers, the CDA and the Council etc. that concerns me the most. Save for the CDA, there appears to be no ability to actively lobby county level policing.

Following a meeting with Councillor Heron and Lord Manners from the Verderers, Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner, Donna Jones said: "In regards to animal accidents and speeding, I am committed to speaking to the Roads Policing Team and senior Hampshire Constabulary officers about how we can support them with reducing speeding on New Forest roads. After this, I’ll be writing to the Verderers with my official position on their proposals.”

Today I have written to the police with a Freedom of Information request asking them to confirm how many times there have been speed checks and enforcement on the Forest roads where the animals are depastured, and the time and duration of those checks. Yesterday's operation seems to have secured a total of 15 tickets on those roads and one summons for drink driving. Records of police and speedwatch events on the New Forest Roads Awareness page show that since the beginning of April there have been police/speedwatch activities once a week or fortnight - generally lasting about an hour - and that the majority of those have been on Roger Penny Way (B3078) and STILL they regularly detect more than fifty speeders in that hour. No doubt this is still going on when they are not there and the top speeds they have recorded are in the 60s and occasionally the 70s. We need those cameras and then it would at least free up these officers and teams to go to other places on the Forest especially since the police van is paid for by the Verderers. 

Finally, I present to you a video created by my good friend, Julie Noviss set to the beautiful music of Twilight Time by the Moody Blues.