Horse is killed by hit-and-run driver
Last updated at 11:37, Thursday, 26 July 2012
STABLE owners have been left devastated after one of their beloved horses was killed by a hit-and-run driver.
The three-year-old gelding named Al was killed when he was hit by a car in misty conditions on the busy Cold Fell road.
The driver failed to stop.
The horse was found by Sarah Bradley, of Bradley’s Riding Centre and Bed and Breakfast, on Tuesday after the mist had cleared on the 8½-mile stretch of road that joins Ennerdale Bridge and Calderbridge.
Stable owner Dorothy Bradley said that the road was used as a “rat run” and that drivers regularly ignore the speed limit.
She said: “It’s a 40mph speed limit but they go faster and totally ignore the speed limit. The driving conditions weren’t good, they were foggy and drivers were going far too fast for them.”
The riding centre is popular with children who regularly go on treks on the horses.
Ms Bradley said: “The little girls who come around don’t know yet and when they find out they will be very upset.”
Al was worth in the region of £3,000 but Ms Bradley said that the “price didn’t come into it”.
The stretch of road has been the subject of a lengthy campaign to reduce speeds.
The Cold Fell Road Community Action Group – made up of local community members, councillors, police officers and Sellafield representatives – has worked tireless for years to improve safety for motorists, pedestrians and animals on the road.
A 40mph limit was introduced in December 2010.
First published at 11:10, Thursday, 26 July 2012
Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk
There must be someone with a very messed up car, and if they have no conscience about what they have done, they were obviously up to no good or would at least have reported anonymously that they thought they had hit something. Maybe gates could be fitted and access restricted in poor weather or during night times.
Have your say
There has been absolutely no improvement by reducing the speed limit to 40mph. The road is still taken over by the selfish Sellafield drivers in their sporty cars. These drivers give anyone who is driving in the opposite direction questioning looks because they believe it to be one way. What stoopid short sighted Councils we employ. The areas roads are outdated, there is no evidence of wealth in this area.
Posted by Horse Lover on 3 August 2012 at 21:33