Town hunt petition nears 700 signatures

A petition launched yesterday opposing the annual Boxing Day hunt meet in a Herefordshire town has already garnered nearly 700 signatures.

Ledbury Anti Fox Hunt said the petition was aimed at Herefordshire Council’s Highways department, which will decide whether to approve the Ledbury Hunt’s application to have the town’s High Street (the A438) closed for the traditional meet.

It also calls on Ledbury Town Council to put pressure on the highways department to not allow the road closure.

The town council confirmed it had received a letter from the Ledbury Hunt, “in line with the requirements placed upon them to consult this council”.

The town council will consider the issue at its full council meeting a week today (December 1).

The hunt’s website describes the 2005 ban on hunting with dogs as “iniquitous”, adding: “There is every confidence that the ban will eventually be overturned and traditional ways of hunting in the Ledbury country will be restored.”

Herefordshire Council and the the Ledbury Hunt have been approached for comment.