A Nottinghamshire council has kicked a hunt from its land. And it’s the latest in a string of councils waking up to the horrors of hunting.
“The most appalling thing”
Newark Town Council has banned South Notts Hunt from parading through the town on New Year’s Day 2020. On 20 September, Newark Advertiser reported that the council’s finance and general purposes committee voted to stop the “traditional” 1 January meet, which took place every year in the market place. The newspaper quoted Gill Dawn, deputy leader and chair of the committee, as saying:
The hunt is the most appalling thing to happen, encouraging people to abuse animals and dress up and drink.
However Kate Cressey, master of South Notts Hunt, claimed on Facebook that the hunt still plans to meet in Newark on New Year’s Day.
Derby Hunt Saboteurs protested outside the Navigation Inn, Breaston, Derbyshire, in April. Labour MP Chris Williamson attended the protest, which demanded the pub stop hosting the South Notts Hunt.
Public response
Anti-hunting groups and other members of the public celebrated the news on Twitter:
Great news that #Newark Town Council have voted to ban the South Notts Hunt from their New Years Day meet at Newark Market Place.https://t.co/v2RNhcAg9i
— Hunt Saboteurs Association (@HuntSabs) September 22, 2019
Yes
— rachel (@raquel2427) September 21, 2019
The World is waking up to the fact that Trail Hunting= dead foxes and by an amazing coincidence =blocked setts.If they wanted to Trail they could drag hunt.@GwynneMP @LGANews @cheshireABS @inthewychelm @HMc_DGNT @HuntEast @felicityfox55 https://t.co/zXCbibzBtJ
— Helen Chambers (@Hellefrog) September 21, 2019
Fantastic news, thanks to the hard work of Deputy Leader and Chairman of #Newark Town Council, Mrs Gill Dawn
— Surrey Hunt Monitors (@surreymonitors) September 22, 2019
Wave of opposition
Newark Town Council is the latest in a string of councils to remove hunts from its land. The Canary previously reported on St Ives, Cornwall, stopping the Western Hunt from meeting in the town on its annual feast day celebrations. On the other hand, a bid to prevent the Western Hunt from meeting in Saint Just during feast day celebrations failed.
Tetbury Town Council banned the Duke of Beaufort Hunt from meeting in the town for its 2018 Boxing Day meet. And locals reportedly “forced” the East Kent with West Street Hunt out of Elham in 2018.
The Canary also reported on a petition by Grantham Against Bloodsports to stop the Belvoir Hunt meeting in Grantham. This led to the hunt moving its meet to another location in the town. However, the campaign didn’t end there. Independent councillor Virginia Moran will bring a motion on 26 September for South Kesteven District Council to completely “sever all ties” with the Belvoir Hunt. Grantham Against Bloodsports said it “wholeheartedly welcomes & supports this Council motion”.
Dominoes
Councils across the country are starting to respond to residents’ concerns about supporting vile activities like hunting. As the dominoes begin to fall, hunts are finding themselves with fewer and fewer ‘safe spaces’. And it shows that everyone can play a part in grinding down this abhorrent pastime.
Featured image via YouTube – Newark Advertiser
