Countryside Alliance: Give Parliament a vote to scrap the Hunting Act

Tuesday, 29 December 2009 12:00 AM

Hundreds of thousands of people came out to support their local hunts at meets across the country today, but the worst Christmas weather for many years means that hunting has been curtailed in most places. The Countryside Alliance says the crowds send a clear message to the next Government: "give Parliament a vote to scrap the Act".

Simon Hart, Chief Executive of the Countryside Alliance, was with the South Pembrokeshire Hunt and 1000 supporters at the Cresselly Arms, Creswell Quay. He said: "There won't be much hunting in West Wales today but that has not dented the real optimism the hunting community is feeling at the moment. There is now a widespread acceptance that this law has failed and the fact that five years after it was passed Minsters and anti-hunting MPs are desperately trying to defend it speaks volumes. The momentum for repeal is unstoppable and that simply would not have happened if the law was justified, proportionate and workable.

"Increasing numbers of politicians of all parties have accepted the case for the repeal of the Hunting Act and it can only be in the public interest that Parliament has an opportunity to get rid of this failed law. Today hundreds of thousands of people from across the country are challenging whoever is in charge after the election to take the honest and democratic route: give Parliament a vote to scrap the Act."

Stephen Lambert, Chairman of the Council of Hunting Associations, said: "The ice and hard ground we have seen over the last ten days is difficult for hounds and horses. Most hunts have met today, but many will not be able to hunt properly because of the prevailing conditions. Those who hunt on foot are better off and may be able to get their hounds out for a few hours. Big crowds have still gathered for meets and there were over 5,000 people to welcome my local hunt, the Heythrop, in Chipping Norton this morning."

Jonathan Seed, Master of the Avon Vale Hunt, which met at Lacock, near Chippenham said: "We meet here every Boxing Day and the crowd today is as big as I have ever known it with at least 6,000 people at the meet. We won't be able to do much hunting today, but it looks as though it will thaw out soon. Hopefully the weather will be better next year and the Hunting Act will have been repealed."

The Old Surrey, Burstow and West Kent Hunt met for the first time on Boxing Day at Chiddingstone Castle near Edenbridge in Kent. Joint Master Richard Gurney said: "We simply had to many people in too small an area where we used to meet so the hunt took the decision to move to a bigger venue this year. It has definitely been worthwhile and we estimate 2,000 people have come along today. It is really heart warming to see such support for hunting in a densely populated part of the South East. Crowds like this show what a wide range of people are keen to support our stand against the prejudice of the Hunting Act."

The Exmoor Foxhounds met at Kentisbury in Devon where 400 people gathered. Exmoor huntsman Tony Wright was the first to huntsman to be convicted under the Hunting Act, but was acquitted after a three year legal battle. He said: "It is lovely to have so many people coming out to support us in a remote part of the country like Exmoor. Only three hunts have been found guilty of illegal hunting, but dozens of huntsmen have been investigated as a result of anti-hunt allegations which puts huge pressure on them and their families. It also wastes a huge amount of police time in rural areas which often have very little police cover anyway. Repeal is not only justified, but also crucial for communities like ours."

Ends.

For further information please call the press office on 07775 938792 or 07977 460811

Countryside Alliance
The Old Town Hall
367 Kennington Road
London SE11 4PT

020 7840 9200
countryside-alliance.org.uk

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