Why new banners are appearing on Derbyshire road bridges

Signs saying ‘Stop the Cull’ and ‘Let Badgers Live’ have been put up by campaigners at various well-known places, including the M1 bridge at Barlborough and the Jubilee Bridge at Matlock Bath.

The banners form part of what Derbyshire Against the Cull is calling ‘Socially Distanced Creative Action’.

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The group has also written an open letter to Derbyshire Police and Crime Commissioner, Hardyal Dhindsa, calling on him to urge the Government to reconsider its plans.

Lewis Foxhall, spokesperson for Derbyshire Against the Badger Cull, said: “We hope the banners draw attention to the issue and show there is still very much a vocal opposition here in Derbyshire.

“The proposed no-cull buffers are just lip service, in reality they will be difficult to enforce and put vaccinated badgers at risk.”

The badger cull, now in its eighth year, is part of the Government’s Bovine TB Eradication Programme aiming to control and end the spread of bovine tuberculosis (TB) in cattle and other animals.

Badger culling has taken place in specifically licensed areas in an increasing number of counties since the initiative began in 2013. Reports suggest more than 35,034 badgers were killed in 2019.

The cull was cancelled in Derbyshire in 2019 and last month a Judicial Review declared the cancellation was legal. The Government is now holding a public consultation on how to deal with vaccination and culling in the same area.

The deadline to respond to the consultation is June 26.

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