Protest planned for Boxing Day hunt

A group of local residents are planning a peaceful protest at the traditional Boxing Day hunt meeting on The Cross next week.

The event, organised by the Tanatside Hunt, attracts crowds in excess of 1,000 people to the town centre for a traditional get together that extends back a century.

And since the enforcement of the hunting act in 2004, the hunt now follows trails of scent instead of wild animals. The Tanatside Hunt says its hunting is held in accordance with the act.

With over 30 horses and even more dogs on show, it has proved a popular family event but while the crowds have grown on the town’s high street year on year, the voice of local opposition is set to be present on Tuesday.

“There is a good number of local people who would like to make their opinion known in a peaceful way to show that not everyone supports it,” said local resident, Heather Chave. “We want to be present and protest peacefully to get our message across that we believe this activity should not be happening in this day and age.”

Supporters use the high profile Boxing Day parades as an opportunity to show the Government that they still remain popular in many rural communities who want the fox hunting ban reversed.

One prominent supporter is Montgomeryshire MP Glyn Davies who commented after last year’s turnout: “Biggest crowd lining Broad Street on Boxing Day that I’ve ever seen. Most of them think as I do. No desire to go a-hunting ourselves, but resent others telling us exactly what we can and can't do.”