Government announces locations of badger control pilots
19 January 2012
The Government has today (19 January 2012) announced farmers in West Gloucestershire and West Somerset can apply to Natural England for licences to cull badgers to control bovine TB in cattle.
Following today’s announcement that two locations in West Gloucestershire and West Somerset have been selected to pilot the Government’s badger control policy, Natural England will now begin working with licence applicants in both areas to advise on the next steps of the applications process.
Natural England is committed to delivering a licensing service of the highest quality, providing expert help and advice to applicants; and ensuring that licences are assessed securely, impartially and efficiently. Licence applications will be assessed against detailed criteria set out in the Government’s published Guidance to Natural England
(PDF); provided the criteria are met, Natural England expects to be able to grant licenses in the two pilot areas in early Summer – with control measures then taking place in the Autumn.
Any other licence applications received during this period will be assessed only once the results of these pilots have been evaluated. No other licence applications will be considered until the results of these pilots have been evaluated.
As part of the licence application process, residents and businesses within and adjacent to the proposed pilot licence areas will be invited to provide information - on an entirely confidential basis - on material impacts that may be relevant to the determination of the licence applications.
The Opportunity to Comment will be open for a 28 day period. If you live or have a business within the pilot areas and feel that the activities carried out under a badger control licence might have significant impacts on you, you can visit the Opportunity to Comment section of our web site.
Details of the licence application process and the Opportunity to Comment process are available on our Bovine TB and badger control in England page.
