Animal welfare campaigners have criticised Somerset County Council for appearing to backtrack on commitments it made to ban trail hunting on its land.

Representatives from the League Against Cruel Sports (LACS) and Action Against Foxhunting (AFF) gathered outside County Hall in Taunton in late-May to protest against hunting on council-owned land, writes Local Democracy Reporter Daniel Mumby.

Two members of the recently-elected Liberal Democrat administration, Sarah Dyke and Tessa Munt, gave assurances at that time that they would “be doing everything we can to make the best choices going forward.”

At a full council meeting held in Bridgwater on November 23, campaigners bemoaned the lack of progress made since May and claimed hunts in two Somerset towns were gathering illegally without applying for road closures.

The council has responded that much of the responsibility for policing trail hunting lies with its tenants, and said it would ensure any road closures needed for the Boxing Day hunts would be in place.

LACS representative Alyson Rogers addressed the full council when it met at the Canalside, asking for an update on the demand it made in May.

She said: “We understand that last time we asked, the legal department were looking at this. Could you tell me what is the delay and when are you likely to make a decision?

“Has the council considered a public space protection order in places where the hunts cause most havoc and disruption to the public?”

Public space protection orders (PSPOs) are a form of time-limited legislation which allows local authorities and the police to issue fines in order to deter antisocial behaviour, such as begging or excessive drinking.

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Councillor Ros Wyke, portfolio holder for development and assets, replied: “Over 90 per cent of our land ownership is occupied by others. It is for the tenants to determine who they invite on the land.

“No applications for trail hunting have been received on land immediately within our control. We are not aware of any trail hunting taking place without our consent on our land.”

Figures published by LACS earlier in November indicate that Somerset is in the top five most affected UK counties for “suspected illegal hunting and hunt havoc.”