By Harry Mottram: Axbridge Town Council has responded to questions from Alyson Rogers of Action Against Foxhunting over their jurisdiction of the town square and whether they have the power to prevent the annual Boxing Day meet of the Weston and Banwell Harriers. In response to the question the council said in a statement (as reported by Alyson Rogers): “Further to your email I just wish to reiterate that Axbridge Town Council has no jurisdiction or involvement with any events taking place in The Square.”
The Square is largely the responsibility of The Town Trust who also look after the town hall – a Grade II listed building – who also have no powers to prevent the hunt from meeting in the Square. Trail hunting is currently legal in England and Wales – it replaced the traditional hunt under the 2004 Hunting Act which allows for one or two dogs to ‘flush out’ a fox from a hedge or thicket. There has been abuse of this aspect of trail hunting which is the reason why Labour have pledged to outlaw trail hunting completely. Trail hunting is where a scent is laid down in advance by the hunt group across fields and pastures and the hounds follow that scent as though it was a real hunt. The problem arises when the hounds pick up the scent of a real fox.
Anti hunt groups have been putting pressure on parish and town councils to ban hunts from meeting in public places on health and safety grounds in order to end the practice. In reply to Axbridge Town Council Alyson Rogers said: “We are well aware that the Town Council and Town Trust have no powers to stop the hunt meeting there, but they both have a duty of care, particularly as the Weston & Banwell hunt have not applied for a road closure. We are asking you as a council to contact the Weston and Banwell Hunt to ask them not to come to Axbridge on Boxing Day for health and safety reasons. We have shown that the event, because of the lack of a road closure and the closing of parking slots contravenes the law. We have also shown that the majority of Axbridge residents don’t want the hunt here, and as a council, it is important that you speak for the people.”
The anti-hunt group also presented a petition with 240 signatures to the council to back up their claims that the hunt was not wanted by residents. However, as it stands the hunt can meet legally in the Square even if vehicles have difficulty in passing through or to find somewhere to park due to the large numbers of people, horse riders and hounds. The hunt supporters argue it is only for a few minutes – an hour at most that they occupy the Square. And at midnight on New Year’s Eve the Square is packed with people celebrating midnight – and again traffic would find it very difficult to pass through for a short time. Alyson Rogers also criticised the Town Trust as she says they effectively facilitate the meeting by ‘closing the car park.’ She has promised to again demonstrate against the hunt on the day.
The Countryside Alliance are adamant there is no reason for hunt meetings not to take place and have organised counter-campaigns to combat attempts to curtail lawful hunting activity from taking place on council land, public spaces and on private land. In Tiverton in Devon (one of several places where the hunting community face opposition) they said: “The Tiverton Hunt’s annual Boxing Day meet is always incredibly well attended, with families from all over the local area flocking to the town centre to cheer on the spectacle. Many attendees use the opportunity to shop locally, supporting local hospitality and retail at an important time of year.”
The Countryside Alliance added: “Boxing Day meets are enjoyed by thousands of people from all walks of life, in many cases bringing much needed footfall to towns and village centres, boosting support for local businesses. Often criticism of these popular events is whipped up by small groups of activists from outside the local area.”
Maddy Jennings and Andy Trigg of the BBC reported that in 2022, official figures compiled by the Labour Party showed there were 438 convictions under the Hunting Act since 2010 over abuses of the law. A Defra spokesperson said: “This government was elected on a mandate to introduce the most ambitious plans to improve animal welfare in a generation, including banning trail hunting.” Before the General Election, in June, then shadow environment secretary Steve Reed tweeted that Labour would “end trail hunting that allows for the illegal hunting of foxes, deer, and hares to continue”.
Axbridge Review has not approached the town council or the town trust for a comment but understand the town council do not have any jurisdiction over activity in the Square and the Town Trust have not breached any laws by not banning or restricting the Boxing Day meet. Also, we understand Somerset Council has approached the hunt over the meeting as they have jurisdiction over the roads in the Square.
Just to reiterate it is as far as Axbridge Review understands the annual Boxing Day meet of the Weston and Banwell Harriers is entirely legal while those wishing to demonstrate their opposition are also within the law to make their point made on the same day.
I have written more on this subject at https://www.harrymottram.co.uk/2024/11/13/axbridge-review-the-towns-boxing-day-hunt-meeting-set-for-more-opposition/
For more on Axbridge Town Council visit https://axbridge-tc.gov.uk/
For more on The Countryside Alliance visit https://www.countryside-alliance.org/campaign-for-hunting
For more on Action Against Foxhunting visit https://www.actionagainstfoxhunting.org/
For more on the Weston and Banwell Harriers visit https://www.wildlifeguardian.co.uk/hunts/weston-and-banwell-harriers/
For more on the law visit https://www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/hunting-act-2004
Axbridge Review is edited by Harry Mottram and is published for the interest of himself and fellow residents.
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Email:harryfmottram@gmail.com
Website:www.harrymottram.co.uk