YOUR newspaper reported recently that the fourth cow this year had been killed on the commons.

As a driver who has (carefully) driven the many unfenced commons roads when the cattle and horses are free to roam, I have wondered why there has been no pressure put on the landowner – the National Trust – to remove all bushes and small trees that grow within (say) 15 yards of the sides of the roads where cattle roam.

I experienced a very close encounter one rainy night when a black heifer trotted out from behind one of the large roadside bushes on the Nailsworth ‘W’.

Under such conditions of poor forward visibility, particularly when faced with oncoming headlights and without the ‘full-beam’ option, any improvement in the opportunity to see a moving cow might well change the thump of an encounter, from which the beast is likely to suffer injury or death, to just that of a screech of tyres.

Locals may well take particular care under such conditions, but the bushes provide such good cover that only wholly impracticably slow speeds preclude any chance of an accident.

May I invite the National Trust to respond?

Chris Wood

Rodborough Common