CULL REACTION: Protests before plan revealed (From Western Telegraph)

CULL REACTION: Protests before plan revealed

5:11pm Thursday 23rd September 2010 in Badger cull in North Pembrokeshire

Banners were put up as protesters donned badger masks in anticipation of Elin Jones’ visit to Pembrokeshire on Monday morning.

An Eglwyswrw farm, currently under TB movement restrictions, was due to be the location for the rural affairs minister’s announcement.

But protesters who gathered at the farm entrance were disappointed to find the location had been moved to Carmarthen at the last minute.

Mike Snow said: “Like a lot of people I am interested in hearing what the minister has to say about a planned approach to TB issues.

“If it’s a public statement the public should be able to listen to it.”

Michael Sharratt, of Badger Watch and Rescue Dyfed, has been involved with badger issues for more than 30 years.

He said: “The trouble with this government is they have total disregard for the history and the law concerning this.

“I had TB myself when I was three-years-old, and I didn’t get it from sleeping with a badger.”

Meanwhile, Pembroke-shire Against the Cull (PAC) says civil liberties have been given ‘short shrift’, as the order will make it illegal to prevent operators from accessing land to carry out a cull. A spokesman said: “The arrogance of a government that thinks it can continue to try to impose such a law on those who have different beliefs, ways of life and livelihoods, is beyond belief.”

PAC will hold a special meeting about the new plans at Newport Memorial Hall tonight (Thursday) at 7pm.