A REPORT in the Wednesday, July 6, edition of the SNJ on the traffic over Minchinhampton Common and the problem of cattle being killed and injured stated that over 8,000 drivers were found to be speeding in just seven days and one motorist was caught doing over 70mph.

This is selfish, shocking behaviour and in an area that is National Trust land and should be respected.

Traffic is increasing and Stroud’s population is growing so something must be done and soon.

Were any of these drivers caught and fined and did they have penalty points?

If not, why not?

While I welcome the large signs they are ugly and spoil an area of outstanding natural beauty.

I still think raised humps and speed cameras with enforced penalties are the answer.

Or people up there with speed cameras taking pictures of cars driving over 30mph.

We are too complacent with these people who have little respect for our countryside.

Lose the cattle and we lose the common, the wild flowers and natural habitat.

I look forward to a reply to my query.

Regards Lizzi Walton Stroud EACH year, we read with horror of the tragic and totally unnecessary deaths of cattle on the common, due entirely to rash, careless and above all impatient driving.

Incredibly, from what one reads, the culprits are mainly locals, and it is amazing that these drivers, knowing the possibility of cattle on the roads and the resulting delays, do not set off on their journey five minutes earlier.

One answer would be speed humps, not like those that can easily be straddled by the car’s wheels with no reduction in speed but of the kind installed along the road which approaches the common from Hyde, alongside the new estate, and which cannot be avoided or crossed at excessive speed yet can comfortably be driven over at 30mph.

Most locals, I would guess, would want to retain the free-to- roam rights for cattle, and other suggested solutions such as more widespread fencing should not under any circumstances be considered.

Bob Kingsland Brownshill ONCE again the police have detected a number of drivers speeding, 8,000 on Minchinhampton Common in this case.

Are we to assume that they will simply write to them as in the past or do they realise that a sentence would be better.

Clive Blackmore

Stroud