Hunt closed High Street
On Boxing Day, the Cotley hunt arrived in Chard High Street, as usual just before 11am, with about 20 hounds.
Just beforehand, I spoke to PC Paul Thomas, local beat manager, who was in attendance for the event – a first, as usually the hunt likes to do things its own way with no police or anyone else they do not know in attendance.
Not much change from last year – the same numbers, or a bit down even with the good weather. The High Street was closed for some 22 minutes, with hunt marshals re-directing traffic, so the A30 was effectively closed. The hunt was instructed to clear up the horse mess this time instead of leaving it to the council to mop up the mess some time later.
This did occur at the end of the hunt but, when I drove back through about an hour or so later, the roads were still stained. Hunts, unlike any other public event, do not require any road closure order or police or council approval under the ancient Police Town Clause Act of 1847.
We did go out to monitor the hunt after they left the town, but the conditions looked more like a 4x4 version of the A303 and, with Cotley supporters' chairman, Mr Dowell following us in his 4x4 vehicle with an amber flashing light ablaze, we gave up after an hour.
Other monitors last season had hunt supporters following them with amber flashing lights, but the Cotley have been using it for two seasons now. It's to warn the hunt of the position of any monitors.
I still find it very strange that in the mists of an economic recession, people will turn out and support a sport that purely exists for a rather wealthy set of people to pursue a wild animal with a pack of hounds and see it ripped apart for pure enjoyment.
Graham Forsyth Chard Somerset
7 Comments
by Shaun Freke, Gloucestershire
Tuesday, January 06 2009, 1:46PM
“Graham if I were an anti hunt or animal welfare activist I would be more concerned by the convictions handed down in December to four leading activists for a campaign of intimadation and terror than flashing amber lights. As far as Mr Richardson from Cirencester (Your say 29th December) is concerned all anti hunt and animal activist are concerned there is no difference in objective or reasoning between the two groups. Unfortunately for the majority of society that historically leaves you in the same group as all direct action terrorist groups, outside of normal society.”
by Giles Bradshaw, Rose Ash
Friday, January 02 2009, 10:50PM
“At least Charles' comments have some kind of content Justin”
by Justin, Cornwall
Friday, January 02 2009, 10:00PM
“Hello King Charles or should I say Prof. Charles Henry supposed Psychologist,bTB expert,hunting expert and farming expert etc.........you never stop,do you.”
by giles bradshaw, Rose Ash
Friday, January 02 2009, 5:29PM
“Is what comes out of the back end of a few horses so much worse than what comes out of the cars that are using the road the rest of the time?
And as for the road being 'stained' I think that is a little strong. The rain soon washes it off.”
by Jerry Jones, Dorset
Friday, January 02 2009, 3:45PM
“Quite a number of towns and villages has hunts meet on a regular basis. There is some disruption i grant you. They will continue to meet which is their right and for an half a hour i see nothing wrong in it. They know the law Graham and would do well to stick to it. Next take a bucket and put some dung round the roses and you could even grow your own mushrooms.
Interesting point about the flashinh amber lights,they have been doing that for ages around us. Just shows how childest some of them can,must have something to hide if you ask me. Lets hope a spaceship doesn't see them.It could be case of BEAM ME UP SNOOTY.”
by KB, Bristol, England
Friday, January 02 2009, 9:59AM
“I'm not sure exactly what Graham's point is here ! The local market town close to me is frequently shut for fairs, athletic competitions and of course New Year's revels. This usually leads to a lot of detritus which unlike horse droppings, is not biodegradeable and is useless on roses.!”
by Charles Henry, Somerset
Thursday, January 01 2009, 4:40PM
“Graham appears to be unable to rid himself of the 'King David's Reaction' that continues to blight his life. . Hopefully 2009 will be a better year for him and. . I was hoping he would get at least an MBE in the New Year Honours..”