Pembrokeshire Against the Cull Blog

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…”

Early one morning, just as the sun was rising – we found a badger waiting in the trap we had set. And we vaccinated him quickly and quietly, and off he went back into the wild and to his social group – now inoculated against bovine tb. This is, of course, an experience from the FERA cage trapping and vaccination course that two of us from PAC attended last week. It is, quite simply, a great course. Here are a few highlights from our experience.

The Badger Trust has sent two letters to Caroline Spelman. The first letter was sent on Monday 15th August 2011 and was in respect of the Radio 4 programme “The Report”, aired on 4th August 2011. The second letter was sent on Tuesday 16th August 2011 and relates to an article printed in the Cumberland and Westmorland Herald on 23rd July 2011. The article was brought to their attention a few days ago. They have today issued the text of the letters as Press Releases which can be seen below.