Farmers say they have been harassed by badger cull protesters
Farmers are having their land vandalised and are being harassed and intimidated by activists fighting against a badger cull in Gloucestershire.
A pilot cull of badgers in the county has been given the go-ahead by Natural England in a move which has divided opinion.
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Councillor RogerYeates has spoken about the intimidation in Gloucestershire
Some believe the action will minimise the spread of TB in cattle, while others are vehemently against a cull as they believe there is no scientific evidence to suggest it will work.
However, police in the county have reported a number of incidents between aggressive campaigners and farmers in recent days as the cull begins in earnest.
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Forest of Dean District councillor Roger Yeates (C, Oxenhall and Newent North East) is a beef farmer of 60 cattle in Gorsley, where his family owns 70 acres of land in the middle of the cull area.
While he is against the cull, he knows of neighbouring farmers who have been targeted by over-zealous activists.
He said: “I know one farmer who has had a number of stiles smashed down on his land. We haven’t had any trouble with TB ourselves, but our cattle are being tested, in fact we had some tested yesterday.
“Personally I am against the cull. They should trap the badgers first and test them. If they are all clear they should release them back into their setts.”
Meanwhile Jan Rowe, 67, a dairy farmer in Gloucestershire who is a director of GlosCon, the company set up to organise the cull, has received personal threats.
He said: “As I am named as a director I have had quite a hard time. Some of it has been quite nasty, there has been a fair amount of intimidation.
“The thing is it has been from people who have no idea about the cull, it is just a cause they have latched on to. We know a cull will work, despite the science interpretation by the other side. There are two options available – to vaccinate or to cull. Vaccination in its current form will not work. Farmers are desperate to get on with the cull, people should let them.”
Gloucestershire Constabulary said they received “a number” of reports of intimidation, harassment and damage against farmers.
A spokesman added: “We can confirm we are following up a number of reports of this nature and would urge anyone who has been a victim of any offences to speak to us directly so that we can take appropriate action.”
Yesterday, it was reported in the Telegraph that anti-cull protesters were planning to occupy barns in the West.
It said: “They intend to exploit what they believe is a loophole in new squatting laws.”
Comments
by grannyonline1
Tuesday, October 09 2012, 10:03PM
“what a beautifull poem, a man with a heart after all.”
by Charlespk
Tuesday, October 09 2012, 8:30PM
“Not now; I just write poetry and stories for fun granny.
THE GIFT OF LOVE
Copyright 2004 by Charles Henry
Awaken young lovers, never waste the sunrise,
Let all the day's secrets spill forth.
See if the promise of your dreams will unfold,
To become the Spring's newest surprise.
Walk down to the meadow enjoy every breath,
And see if the Moonraker has left his bequest.
See if the skylark that's high on the wind,
Has brought you a message from way-out to the West.
Enjoy all the flowers, their scent and their glow
And always remember tread softly and slow.
See all the colours of each bird on the wing.
Listen very carefully; You'll hear their matings begin.
Learn if you will that all love is free,
It's been there before us, where e'r we might be,
The fox with his vixen, the buck and his doe,
The blackbirds the robins, and even the old crow.
If you see a March hare, he'll be jumping for joy,
And even the Collar Dove works out a new ploy.
All of them dressed up in their latest attire,
Pan has made sure that their hearts are on fire.
When at last you arrive, at that spot you first kissed,
Remember what happened when you couldn't resist.
Something inside you was driving you on,
It's God's gift to us all from the heavens beyond.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~”
by Charlespk
Tuesday, October 09 2012, 8:23PM
“And how many times does it have to be said. . This is not a debate. . There is no alternative to a cull of badgers and any self-sustaining species, and any reactor cattle until we have a fully viable, appliable, 100% successful vaccine for cattle and any animals in the wild. . There is not one anywhere on the horizon.”
by grannyonline1
Tuesday, October 09 2012, 8:14PM
“Funnily enough, i do make great jam, been out collectiong rose hips today. I bet your great, out in your shed making doing the things grandads do, but know nothing of nature conservation, or farming, as it is today. Goodnight, sleep tight, im off to watch the badgers in the meadow!!”
by Charlespk
Tuesday, October 09 2012, 8:10PM
“Oh come on granny. . I have made no personal abuse. . Telling you that you haven't a clue what you are talking about when it comes to tuberculosis, is not personal abuse. . Its just a matter of fact.
I expect you are a lovely granny and make great jam.
You just haven't got a clue about tuberculosis. . Neither have the vast majority of the population, so there's no shame in that.”
by grannyonline1
Tuesday, October 09 2012, 8:03PM
“i think Cahrlespk you need to come out of the 1950.s and into the 21st century. All previuos methods of controlling Tb have not worked, so there is NO point repeating them now. Move with the times. We cannot hang onto our TB free status,(very few cattle exports happen now anyway) we must vaccinate both the cattle and the badgers.POLICE properly, and penalise severly, bad bio-security on farms, and smallholings.ALL these things will make a difference.Surely even you have to admit that its just not feasable to KILL every animal that COULD be responsible for carrying/spreading TB? INCLUDING humans.Your stuck in the past, where it is doing no good.”
by grannyonline1
Tuesday, October 09 2012, 7:43PM
“whats more worrying Charlespk, is that people like you are so full of self impotance, when they run out of rational debate, they turn to personal abuse!!”
by Charlespk
Tuesday, October 09 2012, 7:01PM
“You really haven't got a clue about tuberculosis have you!
What's worrying is that people like you are allowed to vote!!”
by grannyonline1
Tuesday, October 09 2012, 6:45PM
“and if what you were saying were true, ie, badgers are to blame for TB in cattle...why are there HUGE swathes of England with no Tb, and yet thousands of badgers? BOVINE TB, the clues in the word!!. When this cull is over, will the farmers trade only within the culled zone? NO!! therefore the area will be extened, and extended until there are no badgers. Well we will not let it happen. Simples!!!”
by Charlespk
Tuesday, October 09 2012, 6:26PM
“If what you have been convinced to be true was even REMOTELY so, hundreds of cattle would be developing full blown tuberculosis. . . It just doesn't happen.
http://tinyurl.com/3zpxybr (TB is coming and you are to blame.)”