BADGERS in Gloucestershire have been saved from culling after a dramatic Government u-turn delayed it.
After Environment Secretary Owen Paterson announced the halt to the cull in the House of Commons yesterday, campaigners welcomed the reprieve. But they said they continue will their fight to stop the animals being killed to control bovine TB.
Farmers who were hopeful the trial cull would help control the disease expressed shock at the decision.
Mr Paterson said the culls in west Gloucestershire and Somerset will be pushed back by a year as delays caused by the weather, legal challenges and the Olympics meant the "optimal time" had passed.
He made the decision after the National Farmers Union (NFU) requested the postponement.
It said farmers were not confident they could carry out the cull given new figures revealing higher than anticipated badger numbers in the pilot areas. The estimated badger population in west Gloucestershire is 3,600 – 2,520 would need to be shot to reach the cull target.
Mr Paterson emphasised there had been "no change" to Government policy on the issue and the pilot culls would go ahead.
"I am utterly convinced that badger control is the right thing to do, and the higher than expected badger numbers only serve to underline the need for urgent action."
The decision was a shock for Eastington farmer Andrew Cozens. He said: "I'm disappointed that having got the impetus up and ready to go forward the breaks have been put back on it.
"TB is costing us £100 million a year. We want to get rid of this disease.
He slammed Defra as 'incompetent' for only just realising the badger numbers were so high.
However he said the reasons for the postponement were understandable and he is confident the cull will go ahead next year.
"All the delays which we have experienced this year should be put to bed by then. This isn't a U-turn it's a postponement.
"Some things are unpalatable and this is one of them but it is needed."