Hunt hits back over safety risk to public allegations

MEMBERS of a Somerset hunt have hit back over claims that their annual Boxing Day meet poses a “high risk” to the public’s safety.

- DANIEL MUMBY

The Cotley Hunt (also known as the Cotley Harriers) has its headquarters in the Blackdown Hills near the Somerset-Devon border, and holds its Boxing Day meet outside the Guildhall in Chard town centre.

Alyson Rogers, a member of Action Against Foxhunting (AAF), publicly criticised the hunt at Somerset Council’s last full council meeting before Christmas, accusing the organisers of putting the public in jeopardy due to poor animal hygiene and not following the proper process of securing road closures.

The hunt has responded that it takes the safety of its animals and the public very seriously and had followed the correct procedures for closing off the A30 Fore Street on Boxing Day.

Ms Rogers made her allegations when the full council met in Bridgwater on December 17 - allegations which were subsequently repeated on leaflets posted through letterboxes across Chard in the run-up to Christmas.

She said: “Early next year, the government is expected to ban trail hunting.

“Meanwhile, hunts are still parading in our towns and villages, while the public are unaware of the risk’s hunts are allowing to happen, such as no authorised road closure.

“Despite the council's traffic management team contacting hunts to let them know they need to apply, some hunts choose to ignore them, meaning there are no checks by the council.”

Following the hunting ban which came into force in February 2005, hunts in England can only undertake trail hunting - where the hounds follow pre-laid trails using an artificial fox based scent across land, rather than hunting live animals.