Pembrokeshire Against the Cull Blog

Here are two short filmed pieces well worth watching and circulating to as many folks as you can. Simple, informative and compelling. Please pass the links on to friends, family, networks etc and post on any blogs, websites and social media that you have access to. Brian May – Brian May’s recent interview on Alan Titchmarsh show is on [...]

Good news  - here’s the positive and robust statement issued by the Badger Trust yesterday…   (Note: the statement relates to the English badger culling proposals only. The Welsh Government has not yet announced its intentions regarding the currently suspended Welsh badger cull.)  _____________________________________________________________________________ Badger Trust gives DEFRA notice of legal challenge The Badger Trust has sent a letter to the Department of Environment, [...]

The latest in the Badger Trust’s ‘Nonsense in the News’ series – a much needed myth-busting service. ‘Specialists like Devon farmer **** **** can identify diseased setts, but often lack academic qualifications deemed necessary to do the job – a great pity’. News item: Western Morning News [1]. SUCH RURAL MYTHS as this are increasingly prevalent. [...]

With decisions imminent yet again on whether to kill thousands of badgers in west Wales, and now south west England as well, people are once again highlighting the very real risk of blighting tourism in these areas - and with it many local jobs and businesses. A recent report by the British Hospitality Association ‘Hospitality in Wales: driving local economies and underpinning communities’ reinforces [...]

The issue of ‘Badgers and bovine TB’ and the Coalition Government’s proposals to kill badgers by free shooting was debated by MPs in Westminster Hall on October 18th. Some of the contributions by pro culling MPs were, to say the least, lacking in substance.  James Gray, MP for North Wiltshire, proffered a ludicrous tale of staggering [...]

A decision is expected at the end of November on the controversial planning application for a 4 million gallon slurry lagoon on a farm in Hermon, Pembrokeshire, within the Intensive Action Area. Local people have been campaigning against the lagoon on environmental and health grounds and have raised serious concerns about planning process and procedures. Given the potential of slurry as a transmission route for bovine tb, an application for a lagoon on this massive scale in this ‘hotspot’ should receive rigorous scrutiny. However, the latest press release from the campaign group says there has been a lack of thorough examination by Pembrokeshire County Council.

I am writing directly to you as a result of the answers provided by Professor Gibbens in response to questions posed on the 38 Degrees petition website.

Some of these answers have caused grave concern to the Badger Trust and we are therefore seeking urgent clarification. The answers were woefully lacking in specific detail and were almost insulting to those who had taken the trouble to pose the questions. Therefore we are expecting carefully considered, clear, objective answers to what we hope you will appreciate are carefully considered, clear, objective questions.

“… We are appalled that farmers are openly admitting on national radio that criminal activity involving a protected species is taking place and this is to formally ask you as President of the NFU, what do you intend to do about it? …I have delayed sending this letter in the expectation that you would issue a clear public statement to your members that the illegal and inhumane gassing of badgers should cease immediately. Unfortunately your silence on the matter appears to indicate that you condone the crimes which are being perpetrated…”