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Duck cull looks set to go ahead
Council bosses in Wigan are being urged to give the go-ahead to the controversial culling of the town's ruddy ducks.
The Metro had delayed granting permission for the shoot while the town hall's director of environmental services, Martin Kimber, reviewed the latest scientific position.
But Wigan's ruling Labour cabinet will hear next week that Mr Kimber has now completed his review and found no new evidence to further delay the operation – only "contradictory views".
A decision by next Thursday's meeting will clear the way for Defra marksmen to organise the cull of the colony of 140-plus non-native wildfowl said by some experts to be threatening the European population of much rarer white-headed ducks.
But animal rights group members are now threatening "direct action" and are pledging to position themselves between hunters and the ducks when the operation takes place at Pearson's Flash in Worsley Mesnes and Pennington Flash in Leigh.
Opponents are already furious that Wigan's majority Labour councillors agreed to hear a presentation by Defra in favour of the increasingly controversial proposed operation, but then refused pleas from opposition leader, Coun Peter Franzen, to organise a hearing of the anti-cull case.
Organisations reconsulted by Mr Kimber included Defra itself, anti cull pressure group Animal Aid, Leigh Ornithological Society and Wigan- based county bird recorder Judith Smith.
The council says they were unable to contact leading opponent and wildfowl expert Tom Gullick.
Mr Kimber explained that Defra provided 10 sources of information to justify the cull.
And they still believe the science behind the UK ruddy duck eradication programme remained "entirely valid."
However Animal Aid maintain their argument against the cull as do Leigh Ornithological Society and bird watcher's spokesman Mrs Smith.
Mr Kimber will tell the cabinet: "The resolution of the council has led Defra to re-examine its position but their policy remains the same and is evidence based.
"Having contacted those organisations and individuals referred to in the resolution passed by the council, no contradictory scientific evidence has been provided, only contradictory views."
Government experts say the cull is necessary to help secure the future of a native European species now being threatened by interbreeding.
Spain's white-headed duck has been pushed to the brink of extinction by the ruddy duck, an American invader.
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Weather for Wigan
Saturday 26 May 2012
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Temperature: 10 C to 23 C
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