A petition launched yesterday opposing the annual Boxing Day hunt meet in a Herefordshire town has already garnered over 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 festive meet.

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

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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”.

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

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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.”

A Herefordshire Council spokesperson said: “Provided our Highways Team are correctly notified of any request for a road closure, the Council does not differentiate between the different types of event that may take place under temporary road closures.

“If event organisers request a closure for a lawful event and there are no operational issues (such as planned highway maintenance works), there are no legal grounds on which the Council can refuse the request.”

But he added: “We expect all events to be totally compliant with the relevant national legislation; in relation to this specific event, compliant with the Hunting Act 2004 and any related legislation.

“Any prohibited activity should be reported to the police to investigate.”

The Ledbury Hunt have been approached for comment.

What are your thoughts?

You can send a letter to the editor to have your say by clicking here.

Letters should not exceed 250 words and local issues take precedence.