THE Carmarthen Branch of the Labour Party (which represents the "West" part of the West Carmarthen and South Pembs constituency) voted unanimously at its last monthly meeting to oppose, and to campaign against the Welsh Government's proposed Badger Cull in West Wales.

We have advised our Labour AM representatives in Cardiff and the First Minister accordingly of our decision, and we are most grateful for the assistance of our local AM candidate Christine Gwyther in this regard.

We have reached our conclusions having received expert scientific advice that a badger cull could not materially contribute towards the control of cattle TB, and indeed might exacerbate the situation, when compared with vaccination.

We consider that there has been insufficient public consultation here in West Wales, that there are other more suitable means of addressing the TB issue, and that the government slaughter of badgers in West Wales has virtually no support in the community.

We believe that the public are entitled to be fully informed of all the issues surrounding cattle TB and of the various solutions to the problem including vaccination and the advisability of continuing cattle farming in possible TB "hotspots".

Furthermore, we are as aware as everyone that badgers are much loved popular animals which have not always been well-treated in West Wales — badgers present no dangers whatsoever to humans.

The public do not want to see gunmen come into West Wales to shoot and kill our badgers, in particular based on evidence which fluctuates from the non-existent to the flimsy.

We sympathise with those farmers who face cattle TB problems and believe that they will too want a solution which is based on sound scientific evidence following full public consultation, rather than this hasty Government Implementation Order brought in the dying minutes of the present Assembly Government.

In any case, we believe that many farmers not will want gunmen to come on to their land to shoot badgers on such superficial evidence, — if at all.

I urge therefore that such scientific professionals let the public have the true story, for example by setting out the facts through the columns of your newspaper.

We will continue to oppose the mass slaughter of badgers in West Wales.

Philip Grice

Chair, Carmarthen Labour Party