DRIVERS should be forced to go slower on Cumbria’s fell roads to help protect walkers and livestock – and encourage them to appreciate the upland landscape.

The Open Spaces Society says traffic needs to be slowed across commons so they can be grazed by stock both in the interests of the public – who have a right to enjoy them on foot and often on horseback – and the farmers for whom livestock grazing was fundamental to their livelihoods.

The UK’s oldest national conservation charity also says speed limits would encourage motorists to appreciate upland areas for what they were – “special places which are not to be rushed through”.

The charity has submitted its recommendations to a review set up to look at England’s 10 national parks and 34 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs).

Cumbria contains two national parks – the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales – and three AONBs.

The review, led by journalist and writer Julian Glover, aims to look at how these landscapes can continue to benefit society.

The Open Spaces Society’s recommendation could see speed limits as low as 20mph on unfenced roads such as the Cold Fell road between Ennerdale Bridge and Calder Bridge, and many other minor roads inside the national parks.

Kate Ashbrook, general secretary of the charity, said: “The vegetation of common land needs to be managed to ensure it can be enjoyed by walkers and riders and that historic features are visible.

“An important means of doing this is by grazing livestock. However, where commons are crossed by roads with speeding traffic commoners are naturally unwilling to risk their animals for fear of injury to stock or humans.

“We oppose the fencing of roads across commons because this restricts public access and is a blot on the landscape. We consider it is much better to slow the traffic down.

“National park authorities and AONB boards and committees should be given the power to impose speed limits on unfenced roads across commons as though they were the traffic authorities.

“We would like to see sympathetical traffic-calming measures introduced as well.”

She added there were speed limits in force on some commons in southern England, including Dartmoor and the New Forest, but they were too often ignored and needed greater enforcement.