M40, j15, last night - Closed due to Cows!

[Andehh]

Anyone else caught in it? I was 5-6 cars back from the first line of stopped traffic heading south, so had a good view of it all. Frustratingly appreciated the view of my hard earned tax pay for a good 10-15 police and several highways agency men to stand around watching a few cows at the top of the Northbound embankment, whilst farmer Joe was dragged out of his potting shed.

Further highlights included a policeman forcing myself and others to reverse so he could drive his F10 silver BMW from the hard shoulder to the central reservation (all 3 lanes of it, 90 degrees) to hop out and run over to the other carriageway before running back and reversing back to the hard shoulder a few moments later.

Other then that it was just me watching the police watching the cows whilst the cows watched us for 30mins before some bright spark decided that they could allow us southbound lot to use the hard shoulder to tepidly sneak past the 7 lanes, central reservation, herd of Government Agents, embankment and couple of bemused cows to continue our journey without milk being spilt.

Had the cows been capable of the 100m hurdles, I could understand us not being allowed to just creep past using 1-2 lane, but for us to be held stationary for 30+mins whilst the cows didn't move an inch seemed udderly daft. Surely the 4;1 ratio of pigs*:cows could have ensured we could continue our journey south slowly.


What is the general policy for these situations? The police also had no issues with every man & his dog walking down the motorway to observe the farmyard and take the necessary selifies. Mr Plod & his need to move his BMW against the central reservation even waited for one young chap get back in his car to move it so he could proceed.


edit; *(Pigs-police, all respect & appreciation to you guys due, but I couldn't resist! )


edit2; Joking aside, some people were stuck for over 3 hours...
http://www.frixo.com/m40-north.asp

Would the farmer be held liable for anything? His fence not being kept secure, especially with a motorway a few paces away?

Edited by Andehh on Thursday 29th May 12:54

[Maracus]

My mate was caught in that as well.

I don't understand why people choose to have their farms so close to motorways

[Andehh]

Maracus said:

My mate was caught in that as well.

I don't understand why people choose to have their farms so close to motorways

The correct question is understanding how someone leaves his fence unchecked for so long that some dozy heffers manage to push through it, onto a live carriageway! if smoke blowing over a motorway causes an accident that ends in prosecutions....

Edited by Andehh on Thursday 29th May 14:31

[Impasse]

Armed Response, a few coals and a couple of beers. You'd have yourself an impromptu BBQ. Yummy.

[vikingaero]

Miles and miles of wooden fencing lining the motorways gets stolen by p1keys so Farmer Palmer may not have been at fault.

[Jagmanv12]

mooooove along now nothing to see here

[lbc]

Not sure what the ops beef is.

[Clivew]

What a load of bullocks!!!

[greygoose]

Cud have been worse, OP milking it for sympathy.

[Monty Zoomer]

Couldn't you have taken an udder route?

[DeolTheBeast]

Monty Zoomer said:

Couldn't you have taken an udder route?

shameless

[talksthetorque]

I don't think I've heifer herd anything like it.

[DaveH23]

Well if they police didn't intervene you could of been hoofing it along and if you hit said cow you would be mince meat.

[Andehh]

I've created moo-nster! (a very poor attempt compared with the above...)


Funnily enough, one of the guys at work who got caught by it blamed local s who apparently take it for firewood. I like to think by looking at the rest of the fence would reveal some clues as to the farmers pro-activeness though...

Edited by Andehh on Friday 30th May 10:27

[Cyberprog]

IIRC the fence is the responsibility of the highways agency...