Badger cull moves to top of political agenda in Gloucestershire
BADGER culling has been placed at the top of the political agenda as a matter of urgency as the controversial issue reaches boiling point in Gloucestershire.
An extraordinary meeting has been called by the county council following a review of its policy on culling badgers on its land to curb the spread of bovine TB.
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sparking debate: Badgers will be shot.
The council will meet to discuss its rural practices and procedures in relation to the forthcoming cull on Monday, October 29 at Shire Hall, four days after the topic is debated in Parliament.
Liberal Democrat county councillor Jeremy Hilton led calls for the meeting.
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"This meeting will determine the council's legal position in the cull being undertaken on land that is owned, controlled or managed by the council.
"There has been overwhelming public opposition against this cull. It is therefore important for councillors from all parties to be seen making every effort to attend."
The parliamentary debate will help explain the science behind the badger culls and detail of the Government's TB eradication programme.
A public e-petition attracted thousands of signatures, calling for further political discussion on the subject.
President of the National Farmers Union, Peter Kendall, hopes the discussions will eradicate any misinformation that exists over the cull and bovine TB.
"We understand this is a highly emotive issue and people should feel their views have been listened to," he said.
The devastating effect of bovine TB was felt by one Forest of Dean farmer, Jim Hunt, after 126 of his cattle were decimated due to the disease, costing his business tens of thousands of pounds.
A pilot cull of badgers in the county has been given the go-ahead by Natural England.
Gloucestershire Against Badger Shooting is organising a peaceful vigil on Sunday in the Forest of Dean in response to the number of people expressing their fear over the impending cull. The meeting will take place at the clock tower, in the marketplace in Coleford at 7pm.
Comments
by Jude177
Monday, October 22 2012, 10:27PM
“Exactly my thoughts-apart from being unscientific and barbaric it could also be completely counter-productive in BTB terms-never the mind the damage done to our wildlife(and not just the scapegoat badger). And what price the damage done to tourism? would you ramble/camp in countryside with family & pets when there are bounty-hunters with high-powered shotguns around? why haven't hotels/B&Bs/shops spoken out? and there are many who will not buy dairy products from this area if the cull goes ahead--some are even now switching to Welsh dairy products-will be difficult to win back.And this is before the cull starts-what when we are seeing pictures of the slaughter and inured badgers? The judgement will be at the polls next May. Shame on Natural England, DEFRA and the NFU. There are also questions to be answered on who is profiting from all this?-a co-architect of the cull/friend of the Ministers and local MPs/"impartial" adviser to DEFRA-and guess what the Director of GLOSCON who are carrying out the cull-with taxpayers money.....”
by Clued-Up
Thursday, October 18 2012, 9:16PM
“I so much hope Gloucestershire County Council will decide to ban the badger cull on its land and use its influence to encourage other landowners to do the same.
The government scheme is a thoroughly nasty one. They're proposing to use taxpayers' money to fund the slaughter of badgers that's opposed by up to 97% taxpayers. They're claiming this exercise is all about reducing cattle bTB when the leading experts in animal diseases (including bTB) have told them a cull may increase cattle bTB and won't have any significant postive result. They say they need to find out whether free-shooting badgers is humane - the vets have told them it won't be.
Lastly, they're proposing to put human beings at risk. Shooters paid for each badger corpse rather than by hours worked will blaze away at ANY opportunity, regardless of whether there are human beings close by. I'm sure GlosCon will say the shooters have been formally trained not to shoot when it's unsafe. When a shooter risks losing money by being responsible and also knows he'll probably not get caught for misbehaviour, what's he most likely to do?”
by grannyonline1
Thursday, October 18 2012, 1:41PM
“well said NDMILLER!!!”
by grannyonline1
Thursday, October 18 2012, 1:39PM
“well said NDMILLER!!!!”
by NDJMILLER
Thursday, October 18 2012, 12:29PM
“"President of the National Farmers Union, Peter Kendall, hopes the discussions will eradicate any misinformation that exists over the cull and bovine TB."
That will cut both ways Mr Kendall, so if the the "misinformation" eradicated by the discussions turns out to be the pro-cull evidence supported by yourself, the NFU and DEFRA, can we have your assurance that you will accept it and cancel the cull ?”