Facts don't support any cull of badgers
THE illegal culling of badgers, however well intended, will worsen the spread of bovine TB.
In his letter "Ordering a badger cull would be political suicide" (WMN, August 26) Martin Bell says Hilary Benn won't order a cull for political reasons.
He continues and talks about illegal culling by farmers, and cites badgers he sees on the roadside on Bodmin Moor. There is probably truth in this.
A State Veterinary Service vet I know, who works out of an office in the South West, told me when his office announced to farmers they would be doing autopsies on road kill badgers, the road kill numbers plummeted.
But this shows the folly of the way the NFU and the Conservatives are handling the issue in a deeply political way, for if this illegal culling is happening, it will actually make things worse.
The NFU and the Conservatives are blaming Labour being in hock to their bunny-hugging supporters for the lack of a cull, rather than speaking honestly and saying that the science for or against a cull is arguable, and marginally (please note I write "marginally") against a cull. Importantly, the science shows the spread of TB will be exacerbated if a cull is not carried out professionally, systematically, consistently, in a time- co-ordinated way over many years and many square kilometres.
They are deliberately ignoring the complexity in successfully implementing a cull. Influenced by this, and as many farmers don't have the time, skills or inclination to read the research, they may well think by doing some "informal" culling they will help themselves, and that it is only bunny-hugging townies that are in the way.
But, due to perturbation, they will spread the disease to their own detriment; even the NFU accepts that perturbation happens. Farmers are shooting themselves in the foot.
Theo Hopkins
Lifton
Special protection
I ATTENDED a lively planning meeting at Sidmouth on August 25 and was both confused and horrified when the council officers told us there was no good planning reason to protect the Longboat Cafe at Budleigh Salterton, a historic and rare example of a longboat house, which pre-dates the introduction of lifeboats on our coast.
I understand at present there are moves towards trying to get this building, that fits in so perfectly with its setting, listed, but the outcome is not known yet.
I have read the planning guidance that states the needs of the AONB outweigh all other planning and community needs – but we were told by the planning officers that this was not the case.
Are there any independent planning solicitors out there who can confirm if EDDC is correct? If they are correct, then please can I know why we are told in the official guide that this Jurassic Coastal Heritage site and AONB has full planning protection?
I was shocked the site meeting proposed by one sensible councillor, at which the whole committee were present and could check and ask further relevant but unanswered questions, was swatted away as if she had no right to request it.
It was suggested at one point that one of the dangers of the new building's roof was that skateboarders might be attracted to practise on it – I believe this is not far from the truth as it does resemble what is in the skateboard park in Lime Kiln car park.
I also believe those councillors who voted for the new ugly building do not understand the value of the AONB and this historic little Budleigh gem.
Hopefully a miracle will happen and the despoiling of Budleigh seafront will not take place.
Jane Lee
Otterton
A great service
WITH reference the report by Alice Wright (WMN, August 24) concerning cardiac rehabilitation, and making the point too many people were not made aware of the heart rehabilitation service.
This surprises me because I had a heart attack some few years ago and immediately I came home from Treliske, Truro, I was visited by an NHS specialist nurse and she cared for me in my home for a period of about two years. She was directed to me by the hospital and monitored by my GP.
My prognosis on leaving hospital was recorded as poor, however, I have made a reasonable recovery and enjoy a good quality of life. I owe this to a wonderful service which I applaud.
I hope your report will be carefully read and anyone in need will avail themselves of this excellent service which Cornwall NHS are so eager to give.
Eldred Chapman
Bodmin
Thank you, Kate
KATE Ironside's fanatical support for the EU (WMN, August 24) has done the eurosceptic cause a power of good. When UKIP first came on the scene in 1994, its message that Britain will be better off out of the EU was perhaps ahead of its time. Its supporters were called gadflies, cranks and worse.
However, events have proved them to be right – the extravagance, corruption, inefficiency and arrogance of the EU is clear for all to see and its aspiration to create a superpower is set out in the Lisbon Treaty.
The result of the recent European Election, where UKIP beat every party except the Tories reflects the massive change in public opinion. Keep it up Kate – and welcome to the Gadfly Club.
Graham Booth
Paignton
Time to recycle?
RE the article regarding lightbulbs (WMN, August 25). While we all want to recycle and help the planet, why is this all happening now? We are all trying to cope during the credit crunch.
Unfortunately, England always goes along with what the EU says. It's time we left Europe.
Mrs V Hircock
Boscastle
22 Comments
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by Charles Henry 1945-(diuturnity), Somersetshire
Wednesday, September 02 2009, 7:52PM
“:| Theo; you are getting more repetitive than me now. . By the way, while we're at it, let's not forget that it was was John Majorwho protected the badger in the first place; to buy a few cheap votes! . However, Labour certainly can be blamed for their interpretation of all the bungled test culling that caused all the perturbation in the first place; and is now eternally quoted as 'science'. . And as far as being politicised; the Labour party have politicised all things 'country' ever since BSE. . Now they would rather jail a Tory, or a farmer, or a huntsman, than they would a drug dealer or a shoplifter. . . So what will it take Theo?. . Suddenly finding your dog will have to be put down? . Did you know there are now camelids and and other country park species becoming infected that haven't been near cattle?. Like it or not, badgers from infected setts are going to have to be culled.
The following is the opinion of former Chief Scientist Sir David King as well as hundreds of highly respected veterinary surgeons that is being totally disregarded by this Labour government.
1. Badgers are a clear source of infection for cattle. Reducing the density of badgers in those areas of England where there is a significant level of TB in cattle reduces the incidence of TB in cattle in the same area;
2. Removal of badgers should take place alongside the continued application of controls on cattle. Genuine commitment by all interested parties to the overall TB strategy is needed if TB is to be successfully controlled;
3. Removal of badgers is the best option available at the moment to reduce the reservoir of infection in wildlife. But in the longer term, alternative or additional means of controlling TB in badgers, such as vaccination, may become available. Research into these should continue;
4. Removal of badgers should only take place in those areas of the country where there is a high and persistent incidence of TB in cattle. It is not an appropriate measure in other areas.
5. The minimum overall area within which badger removal should take place is 100 km2, although increasing the area would increase the overall benefit;
6. Where there is inaccessible land within the overall removal area, badgers should be removed on the accessible land bordering it;
The full report, including an expanded list of conclusions, can be viewed at the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills website.”
by Theo H, LIfton
Wednesday, September 02 2009, 5:02PM
“@ Martin Bell.
Krebs was commissioned by Angela Browning, the present Conservative MP for Tiverton and Honiton, when she was a junior minister at MAFF in 1996.
No one can blame Labour for the results.”
by Theo H, Lifton
Wednesday, September 02 2009, 4:56PM
“@ Martin Bell.
What would put me in favour of a cull?
Simple.
Robust science in favour.
I own a woodland with a badger sett within it. If there is robust science I will show the Defra gassing teams were the sett is.
But I am not prepared to aquiesce to a cull based on the politicised science and spin of the NFU and the Tories who, having set up the science to get the answer they wanted are in a panic as their scientists came up with an unexpected answer.”
by Martin Bell, Port Isaac
Wednesday, September 02 2009, 3:55PM
“G'day possums. Typical bloody Kiwis, blaming their misfortune (20 possums per person) on Oz. Seriously though, I now understand the point that Theo was making about perterbation. If you shoot the odd badger or disturb a sett without killing all the inmates the survivors take their TB somewhere else and spread it even faster. Right? Or uninfected badgers move into the territory and catch it. But what is the margin that you refer to in your letter Theo? What would tip you in favour of a cull?”
by Charles Henry 1945-(diuturnity), Somersetshire
Wednesday, September 02 2009, 2:57PM
“:| I'm sorry Chris. . But all they have done is prove 'scientifically' that if you cull inefficiently you will get perturbation. . Nothing more. . If you just disturb an infected badger sett, they will find new homes and infect other badgers or cattle. . So Theo's first submission that the random killing of badgers was probably doing as much harm as good, was probably correct.”
by Charles Henry 1945-(diuturnity), Somersetshire
Wednesday, September 02 2009, 2:47PM
“:| Well we learn something new everyday don't we Theo. . I've learned that in 1941 you had foxes in Ireland that didn't eat your free range chickens. . And you've learnt that 90% of the meerkat population in South Africa die with, or from, bTB. . And sadly a high number of the human population of Africa also die from TB, but largely from Mycobacterium avium when it's zoonotic.”
by Chris, Cornwall
Wednesday, September 02 2009, 2:23PM
“Charles I expect there are many people working on mTB who know far more than both of us put together. All i've been showing you are studies carried out by scientists who have published in their findings in respected, peer-reviewed journals which specify in veterinary medicine, ecology, microbiology and immunology. It's nothing i've made up, just what i've read and passed onto you. Now you can dismiss it if you want and call myself and people like Theo all the names under the sun, farmer-haters, bunny-huggers, John Prescott fan-boys, whatever,it does'nt change the fact that the science proves that culling badgers does'nt help eradicate mTB at this moment in time. You can shoot as many messengers as you want but the science will always prove you wrong right now whichever you look at it.
Best Chris”
by Theo H, Lifton
Wednesday, September 02 2009, 2:12PM
“@ CH
So the meerkats in South Africa have got bTB?
Blame that on the badger?”
by Organic & free, North Cornwall
Wednesday, September 02 2009, 2:09PM
“Charles; Your the one who's incompentent and is unable to read between the lines. Your obsession on Mycobacterium bovis as well and truly gone to your head. As you may know or quiet possibly don't know Charles, it's unhealthy to have a obsessional disorder. You will never admit that your wrong on most front's. Scarmongering is your art form. Theo and Chris have proved that you don't know a possum from a badger. Dear, dear me Charles. Whata mistaka to maka.”
by Charles Henry 1945-(diuturnity), Somersetshire
Wednesday, September 02 2009, 1:31PM
“:| No Chris is you that is the illiterate one. . You have no understanding of this bacterium or the fact that badgers incubate it and infect each other in their setts. . Perturbation is a red herring. . If a cull is efficient and a sett is closed, there will be no perturbation. . Possums are far more numerous but live separate lives rather than communities. . If they lived communally underground they would have been a far greater problem than they already are. . The meerkat population of South Africa is another animal that has been severely effected by bTB. . Why can't you just accept that there are people who know far more about this disease than you, and don't hate animals. . On the contrary. . We love our animals and give our lives to them.”