Residents’ ‘Get Out’ message to Hunt

A group of residents in a Wirral community has delivered a blunt message to huntsmen – ‘Get out of our village.’

The call to the Royal Rock Beagle Hunt to stay away has come from Puddington people. But the hunt say it has yet to be told officially about the campaign. Anti-hunt crusaders say they have gained the support of 60 residents out of a total of 80 homes in Puddington – plus 20 working in the community.

They are calling on organisers of the hounds to abandon meets in the village and save wildlife as well as the hare population. The campaign has been backed by Euro MP Lyndon Harrison and Ellesmere Port and Neston MP Andrew Miller. A petition was presented to Mr Harrison at a special meeting in Puddington at the weekend. He said he would be pursuing the matter on behalf of campaigners.

Puddington Old Hall owner Michael Gayford said there had been concern in the village for some time because of ‘the obvious reduction in the hare population. Traditionally, the Old Hall was somewhere the hare hounds would have met, but there can be no justification for such activity to continue in this day and age.’

Parish councillor David Williams said: ‘Puddington wants to preserve all that is good about the countryside for everyone in Cheshire and Wirral to enjoy.’ Villager Bryan Blakeman added: ‘Many people don’t know this kind of destruction of wildlife still goes on. The countryside and its wildlife is something we must preserve for future generations.’

But Royal Rock chairman Terence Harvey said there was ‘absolutely no reason why people should fuss about us. We have met for many years in Puddington without any trouble. We are not harming anybody and no one has approached us to ask if we would mend our ways. If we are approached we will consider what is being asked of us.’

Published in The Chronicle (Wirral Edition), 20th October 1995