A debate on trail hunting in Cornwall saw councillors speaking passionately in favour and against the practice.

The issue was on the agenda at a full council meeting after a petition with more than 10,000 signatures calling for the authority to ban trail hunting on council owned land.

Supporters behind the petition argued that the practice was damaging to wildlife habitats and also claimed that it was a smokescreen for illegal hunting. There were also claims that some hunts have been out of control.

Whilst the petition was debated in the council chamber at County Hall any final decision on the matter will be made by council leader Linda Taylor as it is an executive function.

Conservative councillor David Harris said he believed that the matter should not go any further as trail hunting is a legal activity as much as "walking across Bodmin Moor". He added that it is "a major contributor to the rural economy".

Independent councillor Paul Wills said that he was "proudly wearing my Cornish hunting tie" and said that people should be allowed to carry out lawful activities.

He said that the council should not be looking to ban lawful activities and said that trail hunting was no more unlawful than rambling or cross country running.

Cllr Wills said that the council should "not allow a pressure group to dictate policy" and said that the suggestion of banning the activity should be dismissed.

Michael Bunney from Mebyon Kernow said: "This discussion is about trail hunting which is a legal activity, we do not believe it would be appropriate to introduce a blanket ban on council land."

He added that in his personal experience "all hunts are very well run and very popular with local communities".

Jayne Kirkham, leader of the Labour group, acknowledged the "diversity of views in this chamber" and said that there had been occasions "when trail hunts have been used as a cover for an illegal hunt".

She also highlighted the incident in Cornwall when trail hunt hounds attacked and killed a pet cat.

Cllr Kirkham said that it would be appropriate for the council to undertake public consultation to get the views of people all over Cornwall and make a decision based on evidence. She highlighted that other councils and the National Trust have agreed bans on their land.

However a proposal for public consultation and a cross party group to look at the issue was lost when put the vote with 24 in favour, 47 against and one abstention.

Jane Pascoe, Conservative councillor for Liskeard South and Dobwalls, claimed that the petition was "against Cornish rural folk".

She said that "thousands of local people, countryfolk and town dwellers, enjoy trail hunting".

And she added: "They work and live in remote areas, sometimes in total isolation and activities like trail hunting are a welcome respite and a social lifeline for them."

Liberal Democrat councillor Andrew George said that trail hunting had been used as "a smokescreen for hunting to continue".

He said that farmers on council owned farms sometimes feel under pressure to allow hunts to use their land and said that if they council had a ban then it would help with that.

The council voted in favour of allowing the leader of the council to decide whether the council should ban trail hunting on its land.

Speaking after the debate the Countryside Alliance welcomed the support for trail hunting from some councillors.

Polly Portwin, director of the campaign for hunting, said:

"It is right that councillors voted against carrying out a public consultation on the matter, which would have clearly wasted valuable council time and resources. We expect the Leader of the Council to decide in favour of the continuation of lawful activities on council-owned land and for the matter to be drawn to a close, particularly given the significant contributions from members of the Conservative and Independent groups.

"The majority of councillors who spoke at the meeting today were in favour of the continuation of a legal activity on council-owned land. We are pleased that most councillors listened to the valid arguments put forward by many of their constituents. Trail hunting is an important part of rural life in Cornwall, both socially and economically, and banning it altogether would be anti-rural. It was clear from many of the contributions today that the hunting community in Cornwall is highly regarded locally and that a complete ban on trail hunting would not have been passed by the council."

However, the League Against Cruel Sports called on the council to support a ban. Chris Luffingham, director of external affairs, said:

"It's disappointing to see the council rejecting the idea to ask its own voters what they think about this topic, but the executive now has an historic opportunity to show their commitment to the environment by bringing about an end to trail hunting on their land.

"Enough is enough. It's time for the brutal world of fox hunting to be consigned to the history books, something that most Cornwall residents would support."

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