A drive to cut the number of red squirrels being killed on roads around Keswick has been launched by a charity set up to conserve the endangered mammal.
Keswick Red Squirrel Group has become concerned about the number of rodents being hit by vehicles and are planning to reduce the number of instances by raising awareness that the creatures are in the area.
A recent meeting of Keswick Town Council was due to learn that there have been an increasing number of reports of fatalities in the area covered by the group, as well as neighbouring groups’ areas. There were two red squirrels killed in one day on Penrith Road in October.
Councillors will hear that the group has bought some Slow Down Red Squirrels signs and, with the help of the public, have been putting them up at key positions where they can be seen by drivers.
But Lynne Roberts, chair and secretary of KRSG, said this approach had been slow due to limited funds and the lack of people able to help in putting up the signs as well as limited locations where permission has been granted to erect them.
Cumberland Council has been contacted and it said that warning signs for red squirrels are not prescribed by the Department for Transport (DfT) and are therefore not erected by the local authority.
However, the council did say that the DfT has specified a warning sign that may be used where there have been collisions causing injury to
animals.
The KRSG had written to the council asking if it would support a request it would be making to Cumberland Council to install some of these signs on lampposts at key areas where squirrels are active and warning drivers to take care.
The areas of greatest concern are:
- The B5289 Borrowdale Road from the small roundabout in Keswick heading down the valley to the National Trust Bowe Barn office.
- Penrith Road, Keswick, from the ambulance station along Chestnut Hill and the A591 Castlerigg Brow past the Bransties area.
- From Penrith Road towards the A66 along The Hawthorns and up to the bend heading left to the A66.
- High Hill between the turn off for Crosthwaite Church and the A66 in both directions.
“Erecting these signs below speed limit signs would send a clear and simple message,” said Ms Roberts. “Drive within the speed limit and look out for red squirrels.”
She added: “Having Keswick Town Council behind this initiative would make an enormous difference to its potential benefits. KRSG covers areas outside of the town council area and we will liaise with the appropriate parish councils and neighbouring red squirrel conservation groups over this request to Cumberland.”
