Leave hunting ban in place
AT a time of extreme concern about the threat from extremist terrorism, following the horrific massacre of holidaymakers on a Sousse beach by Isis gunmen, and urgent need to address the issues of Britain’s role in the EU, and the possible effect on it should Greece exit, and need for balanced but top quality NHS services, is it reasonable for a regressive minority to demand a repeal of the Hunting Act?
This government’s policy on protecting wildlife and the countryside is welcome. Their election manifesto, however, was sadly mistaken in claiming that live animal hunting had economic benefits.
Foxes may at times prey on domestic species and cause problems in urban areas, but there are far more humane and effective methods of control, and annual official surveys have shown no increase in the fox population since hunting was made illegal.
What about the sad excess of unwanted cats leading feral lives and likely to endanger garden birds, pets and poultry, and raise waste/bin bags?
The brown hare is a traditional favourite victim of hunting enthusiasts, now down to a critical population level, and hunting is not only in itself undeniably cruel and a severe ordeal, but puts protected otters and breeding water birds and their habitats in jeopardy.
Eighty per cent of the population, including a good many Conservative voters and MPs, want these barbaric ideas of sport to remain illegal.
The Burns Inquiry on which the Hunting Act was based found minimal economic loss if hunting were to be curtailed, and the one per cent of lamb losses through fox attack is well offset by the considerable number of field voles and rabbits caught by foxes, significantly reducing damage on farms and plantations.
The prosecution rate clearly indicates that the Hunting Act works – why waste time and parliamentary measures trying to overturn it? Katherine Watson Bramhall
The article explains how this deal can only benefit the town and its taxpayers.
Rather than concern about imaginary effects on services, the tone of the letter suggests a personal apathy towards Stockport County.
The writer speaks of very mediocre football, then in the next paragraph refuses to say ‘football’.
This self contradiction, together with the failure to fully read or comprehend the Express article, leads me to kindly suggest that he/she should seek professional help for his/her attention span. J Regan Whaley Bridge
The Lib Dems in the last government persuaded them to invest in rail projects to support our area.
No sooner are they elected with a majority we see this essential transport money stopped. The funding has hit the buffers and improvements are shunted into the sidings.
Never fear as there is always a green light for their pet projects in London.
We need to link-up our great northern cities with electrification. This will give a huge boost to the north so we can grow our economy. That way we’ll get to be a Northern Powerhouse.
The Lib Dems have a campaign demanding the money for the electrification of the Manchester to Leeds line is spent BEFORE more work goes on in London. That way we put the electrification of the Manchester to Leeds line first.
This project was a key promise for our area in the Conservative manifesto. Our Conservative MPs have put on the brakes to let it come to a screeching halt. What a kick in the teeth they’ve given our area. John Abrams Edgeley