PRIDDY CAMPAIGN SEEKS PARLIAMENTARY SUPPORT

Local Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate Tessa Munt has added her voice to the Priddy campaign to protect the environment. CANINE (Campaign Against Noise Intruding Nature’s Environment) supporters contacted Tessa Munt and their local MP David Heathcoat Amory about what they understand to be proposed for Underbarrow Farm in Priddy. The Mendip Farmers’ Hunt is preparing plans to relocate sixty hunting dogs, six horses and a flesh house to the site which is located within the Mendip Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and adjoins two important Special Sites of Scientific Interest (SSSi). CANINE supporters are concerned about the noise implications to this tranquil residential area of the village and the impact the new hunt kennels will have on the local wildlife.

Tessa is familiar with both the current site used by Mendip Farmers’ Hunt and has visited Underbarrow Farm in the past. Having walked along the path adjacent to Underbarrow Farm and explored the land to the rear of the farm she commented: “If the Mendip Farmers’ Hunt propose relocating to Underbarrow Farm it would appear to be inappropriate on the grounds of its proximity to local houses, its inadequate access arrangements from the main road and the apparent danger to horses and dogs from lead poisoning.”

She added, “I know what it is like living close to hunt kennels having grown up in a village where the only activity was hunting. I know how noisy hounds can be. The other activities attached to a kennels such as dealing with fallen stock are really best located away from people’s homes.”

“Hunting doesn’t attract any fewer participants and followers since the ban, in fact it may attract more, so there will be high numbers of horse boxes and other vehicles coming to and from the kennels and the traffic past Underbarrow Farm is notoriously fast and dangerous.”

“I know of two Priddy families whose dogs have suffered from lead poisoning and would hope that the Hunt would err on the side of caution before placing animals in a location adjacent to an old lead mine.”

“Having been contacted by a number of people living in Priddy who are concerned about the proposals to relocate the hunt and, based on the information they have given me about those proposals, I support them in their concerns and hope that the Hunt won’t decide to relocate to a place which will affect the lives of so many people so dramatically.”

The Right Honourable David Heathcoat Amory commented that this was a planning matter and was not forthcoming in any offer of further support. Ends

Tessa Munt joins Priddy CANINE supporters concerned about the proposed relocation of the Hunt Image shows from left to right:

Geoff Selway, Carol Selway, Spencer Russell, Gwyn Thomas and Tessa Munt