Farmers left to decide on cull after council ruling

“Councillor Ray Theodoulou, cabinet member for resources, said: "It's right that, on issues of farming and animal welfare, farmers, not councillors make the decisions. "The proper place for that debate is in Westminster, not Gloucestershire."

Whilst it might seem right to you that the council listens to a few hundred anti-cull people you are not the majority of the Gloucester population. Not only that they are guided by legal procedure with regards to tenancy agreements.

TB is a health issue and is a notifiable disease in animals.”

“@2ladybugs

"The proper place for that debate is in Westminster, not Gloucestershire."

Some of the land on which the cull might take place is GCC owned. Any landowner is entitled to consider what happens on their land and as GCC represents it's voters its entitled to an interest.

To suggest that Westminster would be better equipped to discuss local issues such as would GCC be "held liable if accidents occured because of a badger cull" is ridiculous. "Hence the resolution that a risk assessment is produced by any tenant involved in a cull."


Liberal Democrat leader in Gloucester Jeremy Hilton said: "Making a decision not to allow the culling of badgers on farms subject to future tenancy agreement would send a message to the government that we are opposed to this policy."

He added: "Imagine if a marksman was walking though the countryside and hit a dog and we have done nothing about it."

If anything distinguishes this government it is its determination to limit democracy as soon as any of its interests are threatened as seen by Camersons recent proposal to limit planning appeals.

What is the use of voting for county councillors if they cannot represent the voters wishes and time and again it has been shown that the public don't want a cull.”

“"The proper place for that debate is in Westminster, not
Gloucestershire."
Yes and the vote was 147 to 28 AGAINST the cull. End of.”

“2ladybugs

"@OutofTownie. You had better go to your nearest farmer....."

I don't have to travel far, I've farmed cattle here in Glos for the last thirty years.

The badger cull debacle hasn't done any farmers any favours and GCC only hesitated because of uncertainty about the legality of a ban under their current 'Rural Practices and Procedures', hence the resolution to review the policy.

Equally there was concern that GCC would be held liable if accidents occured because of a badger cull, hence the resolution that a risk assessment is produced by any tenant involved in a cull.

Support for the badger cull is a vote loser and anyone standing for election knows it.”

“The council would not be able to stop a cull on tenanted farms if an agreement had already been signed. The only way they could stop it would be to threaten the farmer that their lease may not be renewed in the future. However this would probably come unstuck in a Court of Law.

The council therefore are not being cowards but they ARE being sensible.

Pity some of you don't understand the law.”

“Cowardice. The council's job is to represent the views of the people, and the people have made it plain that they do not wish the cull to go ahead. To stand aside at this time merely shows that the council are in the pockets of a few farmers. Shameful. The farmers intensive farming practises are what gave the badgers TB in the first place, and now they make the badger the scapegoat. Pathetic.”

“Oh dear, such a shame that red arrows and green arrows can't do anything to change the councillors votes.”

“Complete cowardice on the part of the council. Fortunately there are others amongst us who are not afraid of or are in the pockets of the farmers.”

“@OutofTownie. You had better go to your nearest farmer.....as "clutching at straws" comes to mind.

"It's right that, on issues of farming and animal welfare, farmers, not councillors make the decisions"

"The badger cull is a contentious issue........"The proper place for that debate is in Westminster, not Gloucestershire."”

“dont forget, its the people who voted the councillors in, who can vote them out again at the next election. If they ignore the petiton presented to them against the cull, thats exactly what WILL happen!!!!”