Stop the geese being shot in Rodley and Horsforth

The Issue

All shootings of geese in Rodley and Horsforth and the surrounding areas should be prohibited.

Geese are encouraged to come due to the wetlands area. Because of this they should be protected and not shot. Even if the geese are causing 'alleged' damage humane ways should be considered in moving them from any farmers land. This has never been considered.

Shooting geese in Rodley and Horsforth  is putting the health and safety of the general public at serious risk. Shootings have taken place next to the canal, near to houseboats and residential properties and next to paths. Shootings have been witnessed by the public and has caused significant distress. There is also a significant risk of injured birds falling from the sky and injurying a member or members of the public. Due to the strong opposition of the shootings people are trying to prevent them from occurring and this again is putting people and the general public at serious risk of injury.

Because of the above its very much felt that gun licensing laws have been breached and serious health and safety risks are being caused to the general public.

The geese in Rodley and Horsforth are loved and enjoyed by many people who use the canal from children to dog walkers, joggers, cyclists and walkers.

Lets make Rodley and Horsforth  a safe place for the geese and see if a designated area can be created where they will be protected and never shot again.

By signing this petition we are asking for MPs, councillors, the council, the police and farmers to get together to discuss and agree in making sure no further shootings take place and ensure that the general public are safe.

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Rodley, Horsforth and Calverley wildlife and conservation groupPetition Starter
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2,387

The Issue

All shootings of geese in Rodley and Horsforth and the surrounding areas should be prohibited.

Geese are encouraged to come due to the wetlands area. Because of this they should be protected and not shot. Even if the geese are causing 'alleged' damage humane ways should be considered in moving them from any farmers land. This has never been considered.

Shooting geese in Rodley and Horsforth  is putting the health and safety of the general public at serious risk. Shootings have taken place next to the canal, near to houseboats and residential properties and next to paths. Shootings have been witnessed by the public and has caused significant distress. There is also a significant risk of injured birds falling from the sky and injurying a member or members of the public. Due to the strong opposition of the shootings people are trying to prevent them from occurring and this again is putting people and the general public at serious risk of injury.

Because of the above its very much felt that gun licensing laws have been breached and serious health and safety risks are being caused to the general public.

The geese in Rodley and Horsforth are loved and enjoyed by many people who use the canal from children to dog walkers, joggers, cyclists and walkers.

Lets make Rodley and Horsforth  a safe place for the geese and see if a designated area can be created where they will be protected and never shot again.

By signing this petition we are asking for MPs, councillors, the council, the police and farmers to get together to discuss and agree in making sure no further shootings take place and ensure that the general public are safe.

avatar of the starter
Rodley, Horsforth and Calverley wildlife and conservation groupPetition Starter
Media enquiries

The Decision Makers

Councillor Peter Carlill
Councillor Peter Carlill
Responded
“Many thanks for starting this petition to highlight this issue and show the strength of feeling among local residents and to push for action. I am clear that this is not a practice I would like to see in the area, or anywhere else for that matter, and certainly not carried out in the fashion these incidents appear to be, so strongly support this campaign. I have been following up on this issue since the original concerns posted on Facebook and subsequent concerns sent to me directly and working with residents and local wildlife groups to do what we can to put a stop to this. As well as receiving numerous concerns about the act itself, there were also the appalling instances of posts bragging about these acts, and of dead birds being found in completely inappropriate locations including ones found in residents gardens and on a local football pitch which are a clear risk to public health and safety. As the shooter has a licence to cull wild geese I began by raising a number of points with Natural England to ask for more detail on the licence to find out whether these acts were carried out legally in line with the regulations and to ask them to formally investigate these incidents. This is a very serious situation as carrying such a licence does give the licenceholder a responsibility to make sure these acts are carried out in line with the regulations to protect health and safety, and that all other humane methods to deter geese from the land have been attempted first - something which I certainly do not believe has happened in this instance. Unfortunately after much chasing the only response I had from Natural England were to send me a link to the public documentation available about the terms of the licence rather than to answer any of my specific queries or to respond to my request to investigate these instances. I therefore contacted our MP Stuart Andrew who is in a position to assert pressure on government agencies and to get this situation investigated and stopped. I shared my information so far with his office some weeks ago and asked that Stuart seek answers to residents' questions and ask that the appropriate agency investigate these acts and the methods used as a matter of urgency - unfortunately I have not yet had a response from his office of any action undertaken. I was also made aware that some of the licences to kill wild birds are under review and I will be happy to submit the concerns of local residents into this review and to further campaign for changes in the legislation to ensure these licences are fit for purpose going forwards and cannot be used in these dreadful circumstances. If you have any information you can share with me on this issue to help campaign for change, please contact me on peter.carlill@leeds.gov.uk”
Amanda Carter councillor
Amanda Carter councillor
Stuart Andrew MP
Stuart Andrew MP
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Petition created on 26 October 2019