Erewash MP Maggie Throup has claimed victory following the announcement by The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs that a licence for a badger culling across Derbyshire will not now be granted by her Department.
Responding to concerns from local activists, Maggie wrote to the Secretary of State, The Rt. Hon. Theresa Villiers MP to demand a halt to the proposed badger culling, in favour of a Tuberculosis (TB) vaccination programme that has been successfully rolled out by the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust across the county.
Following the announcement, Maggie said:
“This is extremely welcome news and is testament to the fantastic vaccination work the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust have being doing to inoculate badgers against TB.
“I put forward to the Secretary of State in the strongest possible terms that the TB vaccination programme was the most appropriate strategy for our area and therefore a licence for culling was unnecessary.
“I am delighted that the Department agreed with my assessment of the situation in Derbyshire and they have taken the decision not to proceed with the planned cull.”