Leicester Animal Rights make a comment about Oakham Town Council's Cottesmore Hunt Ban
For those who saw the news that Oakham Town Council voted to ban theThe Cottesmore Hunt's Boxing Day meet from taking place, see their 15 minute video of the agenda item kindly uploaded by Town CouncillorMartin Brookes Oakham Rutland: http://tinyurl.com/odonv8a
There's some interesting points worth noting & we'll outline them below:
i) Councillor Adam Lowe quickly (rather too quickly in our opinion) stated that it's just a meet, not a Hunt & that it's not an issue of fox hunting. He hasn't forgotten that in September this year one of the Cottesmore Hunt employees was convicted of filling in a badger sett contrary to the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 (http://tinyurl.com/o2f5afz) but appears to overlook/ignore the fact that the only logical explanation for this is that they fully intended to illegally chase foxes for sport. He has however forgotten that in October 2011 the League Against Cruel Sports found active artificial earths in Cottesmore Hunt country which are noted in hunt literature (and the Burns Inquiry 2000) to be used to encourage foxes to breed more (http://tinyurl.com/pws6mev)? We think it's clearly an issue of fox hunting & wildlife crime and his efforts to sweep this under the rug are not appreciated.
ii) Councillor Lowe then defended the decision to charge Chipperfield Circus but not the Cottesmore Hunt on the grounds that the Hunt are a charitable organisation. Really?! If he could clarify what their charitable aims are, that would be fantastic, we love a laugh!
iii) Councillor Jasmine Hopkins then stated she had been asked by an unnamed County Councillor to state that numerous residents were concerned about Oakham Town Council's apparent support of the Cottesmore Hunt without any public consultation. Councillor Hopkins quite rightly pointed out the aforementioned conviction was a wider indication of the Hunt's intent to break the law; we hope she also reads the LACS 'Hunts & Artificial Earths Investigation' from 2011 that we provided a link to for more information on the Cottesmore Hunt.
iv) Councillor Martin Brookes, who we thank for uploading this video, refers to an eagle being used for the Hunt. This is a form of exempt hunting under the Hunting Act 2004 that allows a full pack of hounds, but not one the Cottesmore have to bother using - maybe Councillor Brookes should speak to Northants Hunt Saboteurs.
v) We definitely welcome Councillor Brookes' comment on the Atherstone Hunt being in trouble! wink emoticon
vi) Is it just us or did Councillor Brookes basically say the Cottesmore are a bunch of drunkards on Boxing Day, even in areas where other members of the public have their drinks tipped away by authorities? We think he did...
vii) Councillor Joyce Lucas then went on to say the Cottesmore leave their pack of hounds to defecate everywhere without clearing up after them; but of a mistake there folks, try & be tidier next time.
viii) The vote resulted in two councillors for the Hunt using Cutts Close & seven against. In future, perhaps Councillor Lowe's register of interests should include the Cottesmore... he was rather keen to defend them.
