Project to keep deer away from roads expanded to Rugeley
A successful scheme designed to prevent accidents involving deer is being expanded.
The pilot project, which is in place along the A513 near Shugborough, is activated by car headlights and uses sounds and lights to stop animals from approaching the road.
It its first year of usage, it saw a 60 per cent decrease in night-time deer collisions with vehicles.
Now, the scheme is being expanded to run along a stretch of the Penkridge Bank Road, near to the Birches Valley Forest centre in Rugeley.
Cannock Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and Staffordshire County Council have funded the scheme, which was put in place on October 1.
New signage has also been installed to alert drivers.
Added to this, the British Deer Society Midlands has helped fund 100 deer safety signs, warning drivers that between October and December deer crossings along the Chase become more frequent, increasing the chance of collision.
County Councillor Mark Winnington, cabinet member for economic growth said: “These deer deterrents have shown they can really make a difference to the amount of collisions between vehicles and deer, especially at this time of year when deer crossings are more frequent. Not only are collisions traumatic, they sometimes be fatal to both deer and driver, so warning drivers to slow down, and trying to prevent the deer from crossing the road in the first place, are extremely important.
Councillor Frances Beatty, chairman of Cannock Chase AONB said: “The herds of deer that roam the Chase are a much-loved emblem that people enjoy seeing as part of their experience of the AONB. The installation of further deterrents to reduce conflicts between deer and road users is very welcome, and is a great example of partnership working within the AONB.”
Ian Skelton, chairman of the Midlands, Wales and Marches British Deer Society said: “We welcome the expansion to the current scheme of the latest deer deterrent to Penkridge Bank Road. The Midlands Wales &Marches Branch of the BDS have supported all the schemes aimed at preventing deer vehicle collisions and will continue to do so. We welcome any initiative that involves deer welfare.”
