CANINE watch, listen and field rumours, ‘red herrings’ and some truths about the hunts’ plans. In late October the Chairman of the hunt, Alistair Martin insists that the planning application is still full steam ahead for Priddy. A matter of weeks rather than months. And still CANINE watches and waits for its next move. Bring it on – we are ready and waiting.

Mendip Farmers' Hunt wants to move from an isolated position on the outskirts of Priddy to an area populated with many family homes right next to two precious SSSi's (Sites of Special Scientific Interest).

Who will be affected?

It's not just the immediate neighbours who will be affected, it's the whole village. The potential impact on the Priddy Mineries for both visitors and the wildlife that lives there could be catastrophic.

Did you know:

• Priddy Mineries could be devastated. Where do you think the hounds will be exercised? They will be run through the village and out onto the Mineries. The hounds are already being regularly exercised over the mineries several times a week. Priddy Mineries (an SSSi) is an important resource for the community as well as a huge attraction for visitors. Exercising the hounds in the Mineries could have a devastating effect on the wildlife that lives, breeds and feeds in and on the nature reserve.
• It will be an eyesore in a rural part of the Mendips. Priddy is within the AONB, a develoment of this size will be an eyesore and totally out of keeping with the rural environment.
• Tourism could be affectedVisitors come from all over the world to visit Priddy. The sound of SIXTY dogs will ruin the peace and tranquility of the heart of the village.
  
• Wildlife may be affected. The Priddy Mineries is a popular attraction in the heart of the village renowned for butterflies, dragonflies, reptiles, birds, bats, mosses, plants and many other species. Any change in the habitat and any affect on the food chain on the mineries could have a devastating impact on the wildlife. Would you visit a peaceful nature reserve to watch birds and wildlife when there are hounds barking closeby? Would you sleep in a caving club when there are SIXTY dogs a few feet away?
  
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• Walkers on the footpath. The proposed kennels will be right next to the Monarch's Way Footpath. No ordinary footpath and one that is used by hundreds of people every week. Every time someone crosses the stile in front of the proposed kennels, SIXTY dogs will start howling and barking. Especially if the walkers have a dog too!
  

• Dog excrement is dangerous. Contact with dog excrement can lead to blindness, from an infection caused by Toxocara canis. The area around the existing kennels is heavily covered in dog faeces.

• Priddy Green will be used for local hunts. The Hunt plan to hold all their large meets that they currently hold at the kennels at Plummers Lane, starting and unloading on Priddy Green. They already do this on Boxing Day, a traditional event in the village, but on a regular basis this could cause traffic chaos and total disruption at the heart of the village.
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• Expect more noise. There is a huge hill between the existing kennels and the village. Underbarrow farm is over a quarter of a kilometer closer to the center of Priddy than the existing kennels. Open countryside allows noise to travel further than over hills. Frost makes the ground hard which means that noise cannot dissipate into the ground. Fog means that noise cannot dissipate into the sky. On a cold foggy day (sound familiar?) noise will travel to the center of Priddy much more easily.

• Traffic through the village will increase. Currently the main traffic to the kennels is via the Cheddar road. You can expect to see a huge increase in traffic along the Wells Road, as well as regular trips by the fallen stock wagon though the village. Parking by hunt supporters in and around Underbarrow Farm will be increased, especially on hunt days.
  

If you feel that the hunt kennels moving to Underbarrow Farm would be inappropriate, you need to act NOW because if they get planning permission and move in it will be TOO LATE. Take action!