Members of the Cotley Hunt, based in the Blackdown Hills near the Somerset-Devon border, have strongly rebutted claims that their annual Boxing Day meet in Chard poses significant risks to public safety and hygiene.
At the December 17 Somerset Council meeting, Alyson Rogers of Action Against Foxhunting (AAF) raised serious concerns over the hunt’s event held outside Chard’s Guildhall. She accused the organizers of neglecting critical safety protocols, including securing proper road closures and maintaining adequate animal hygiene. These allegations were further amplified through leaflets distributed across Chard in the lead-up to Christmas.
Rogers highlighted the government’s forthcoming ban on trail hunting and expressed worries that hunts continue to parade through towns without appropriate oversight. She emphasized the potential dangers stemming from unapproved road closures, stating that some hunts ignore council directives, thus bypassing essential traffic management checks.
READ MORE: Rare Starved Wood-Sedge Rescued from Somerset Footpath
READ MORE: Met Office Issues Yellow Wind Warning for Christmas Day Across Somerset
Since the 2005 hunting ban in England, hunts have only been permitted to follow artificial trails rather than pursue live animals. However, a new government animal welfare strategy announced on December 21 aims to outlaw trail hunting entirely, citing concerns that it might be used to disguise illegal hunting activities.
Rogers also raised alarms about the health risks posed by the hounds, alleging they had been fed raw fallen stock and could carry transmissible diseases such as salmonella and cryptosporidium. She cited a past incident where a hound’s fecal sample tested positive for salmonella and criticized the hunt’s minimal hygiene measures during public interactions, likening the risk to outbreaks seen in petting zoos. She expressed further worries about the unpredictability of horses not accustomed to busy town environments and referenced past tensions and violence at such meets, often occurring without police presence.
Councillor Federica Smith-Roberts, who oversees communities and social matters at Somerset Council, responded by clarifying the council’s role. She explained that while personally opposed to hunting, the council cannot prevent the event based solely on its nature. She stressed that temporary road closures require formal applications assessed strictly on traffic and safety grounds, with enforcement against unauthorized closures falling under police jurisdiction. She encouraged any suspicions of illegal hunting to be reported directly to local law enforcement and the police and crime commissioner.
In response, the Cotley Hunt reaffirmed its commitment to safety and compliance. A spokesperson confirmed they apply annually for road closure licenses for the Boxing Day event and meet all regulatory requirements, including submitting public liability insurance. They emphasized their role in local farming by collecting fallen stock and assured that hounds are fed a professionally managed diet, mostly dry prepared meals, and undergo regular veterinary care.
The hunt also noted their use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers for public interactions and maintained that only horses familiar with noisy, crowded town environments participate in the event, with any unsuitable horses kept outside the town boundaries.
“We take great pride in our hounds and the longstanding relationship between the Cotley Harriers and Chard,” the spokesperson concluded. “It is a privilege to celebrate Boxing Day with the community, and we remain dedicated to ensuring the event is safe, welcoming, and enjoyable for all.”