Badger petition tops 1,400 mark - The Worcester Observer

Badger petition tops 1,400 mark

Worcester Editorial 25th Nov, 2014 Updated: 19th Oct, 2016   0

MORE than 1,000 people have signed a petition calling on city council bosses to prevent the culling of badgers in Worcester.

Protester Anna Frankel handed in the document at a full council meeting last Tuesday (November 18) in a bid to provide ‘safe havens’ for the animal on council-owned land.

Worcestershire County Council received a 1,400-strong petition earlier this year, but protesters have now urged the city council to take action.

Culls in neighbouring Gloucester restarted in September as part of a four year pilot set up by the Government.




But fears have been raised that the scheme, which has been created to prevent Bovine Tuberculosis (bTB) spreading to cattle, would be introduced in the city.

Speaking at the meeting, Mrs Frankel described culling as being “unscientific, ineffective and inhumane” and hoped the petition would make a difference.


“The Government is in the second year of a four year trial of a new badger culling method, namely shooting in Somerset and Gloucestershire, with a view to rolling out the programme nationally,” she said.

“The prospect of ending bTB by the simple measure of culling badgers is attractive. But we should remember that sections of the farming community oppose the cull.

“Supporting this petition helps to give those farmers a voice.”

Mrs Frankel also urged council leaders to set up a volunteer-led project to carry out vaccinations, which she said would cost £25 per badger.

“Culling is ineffective, wasteful and inhuman, so now is the time for you to take a principle stand against culling,” she added.

“Not because you have to but because you have the choice and because it is the right thing to do.”

Mayor of Worcester Coun Alan Amos thanked Mrs Frankel for her ‘passionate’ speech and confirmed Duncan Sharkey, managing director of Worcester City Council, would be in touch with her.

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