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POLICE are investigating claims that a pheasant shoot at a beauty spot near Wigan endangered walkers’ lives.
An ex-bobby today led the complaints, saying he feared for his safety as he trekked down a public footpath off Parbold Hill.
A five-year-old boy with his mum was also reduced to terrified tears as shots were fired overhead and dead game birds and feathers fell onto the track.
Former policeman Mark Dowd from Southport says he also spoke to a local resident whose windows have been broken and slates smashed by stray shot on previous occasions.
The shoot took place on land owned by businessman and philanthropist Sir Peter Moores, but it has leased to neighbour and fellow millionaire Dave Whelan.
Who was in the party of between 20 and 30 huntsmen and women is not known. Mr Whelan said today that it wasn’t a party in which he was involved but he robustly defended the right to stage shoots.
The letting agents for the land said that they would be looking into the allegations.
And Mr Dowd said: “Whoever these people were, they were not abiding by the shooting code of conduct. I was flabbergasted.
“The footpath runs straight off the top of Parbold Hill and is well used. And yet there were guns going off far too close by for comfort.
“There was a dead bird on or near the path and plenty of feathers too. There was a wooded area which could have obscured the party’s view of walkers and the path is so steep that even if you shoot up in the air you could hit ground if the gun is pointed in the wrong direction.
“I am pro-shooting but you have to act more responsibly than this. I shouted across to the group ‘are you allowed to shoot so close to the path?’ and one of them replied ‘yes, we have the landowner’s permission.’”
“I met a woman with her five-year-old son who was very upset. She did not want to discuss it for fear of upsetting the boy more and I found another way back to my car because I didn’t want to go back up the same path.”
Chris Anderson for letting agent Smith Gore said: “This is most concerning. The lease has provisions clearly written into it about the code of conduct from the British Association for Shooting and Conservation.
“Basically these are common sense guidelines about shooting near rights of way.”
The BASC advises that “discretion be used where shooting needs to take place and where a public right of way exists. All persons participating in any shooting activity must recognise that users of public rights of way have the right to pass and re-pass.
“One should refrain from shooting when a right of way is being used as this could be construed as a common law nuisance, wilful obstruction or a breach of Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.”
Mr Whelan said: “The last shoot we had was last Monday so it had nothing to do with me.
“I have quite a lot of land round there that has public footpaths through it and people are very welcome to use them on the understanding that they stick to them. And if there are people passing by on a path we halt the shoot while they go by.
“I do think though that some people think that the countryside is just for walking in. But we breed and feed the partridge and pheasants who brighten up the place and you can hear sing and it is perfectly legal to hold shoots. All these birds that are shot are sold for £1 all over the country.”
A police spokeswoman confirmed that officers had received a complaint about a shoot in Parbold and that inquiries were on-going.
She asked that anyone with information ring Lancashire Police on 101 or Crimestopper on 0800 555111.
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Weather for Wigan
Friday 25 May 2012
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Temperature: 11 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 23 mph
Wind direction: East
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Comments
There are 19 comments to this article
Page 1 of 2
jo mc
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 03:40 PMPost 17 ...... you love animals but you kill them? ,,,,,,,, yeah ok
Person
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 09:23 AMInteresting...
Person
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 09:16 AMQuite... I'm sorry my spelling wasn't correct. I hit post before I had checked it and it was frantic typing and I couldn't work out how to remove the post and start again. As I see it we are all entitled to our opinions and views. I don't want every one to think the same way as me, otherwise I would lose my identity and individualality. Like I said, I am proud of what I do, proud of my sport and will always defend it because it is a part of my identity. I love animals, more so than people. But if you ever fancied a go at shooting you may enjoy it. PLEASE don't knock it until you've tried it... You don't have to shoot game you can shoot clay pigeons (not living) and there is a club in Wigan, I've checked. I expect they would be more than happy for you to 'have a go' and let you use a gun with a trained instructor.
sickofitall
Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 12:38 PMMS 243, Quite agree, but unfortunately some people will never face up to facts that sometimes animals need to be culled to control and preserve their own existence and give them a better quality of life. I laugh when i hear these "Tree Huggers" screaming about shooting and even fishing etc when quite clearly they have no idea of what the countryside is actually about, most of them if they had their own way would probably stop farmers at harvest time on the grounds of cruelty to wheat.
JemmyH
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 10:03 PMMs 243 says - "I have studdied to degree level", ..... What? and you can't even spell 'studied'? Or 'pigeon'? ....... Crackpot.
5:15
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 04:06 PMin other words a chav too you............
5:15
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 04:05 PMan oik! miss ploppy......................
Person
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 08:35 PMAre you sure they weren't Pigions? The shooting season is over. It has been over for a little while now. Hense terrible boredom.
Person
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 08:20 PMRight. Lets just all take a deep breath and think about this in a rational manner shall we. Remember... A lot of what we read here is sensationalism. Now this may upset some people but I believe that all of Britians Wildlife has a place here, our flora and fauna must be protected without question and without reservation. I have always had a natural ability in caring for animals. Breaking 14 horses to present day (using natural horsmanship), training dogs, rescuing birds with broken wings, squirrels, wood mice, even a pigion when I was 7 or 8 years old. I have spent years (in my limited experience of life) studying wildlife and the ecology of certain species. I have milked cows since the year dot. Lambed countless ewes, kidded countless goats, calved cows. I have given mouth to mouth resus- to a calf covered in afterbirth and blood and bovine discharge to see it live. I have studdied to degree level, Horticulture (so I also have a basic understanding of plants). I have worked into the small hours of the morning, driving tractors during harvest time (to feed people that only wish to eat vegetables). I think that Deer are one of the most beautiful creatures on the planet and I spend a lot of my time studying them. I am not a Toff, but I have educated myself with the fact and the research before giving an opinion. You may all find it rather ironic that I also shoot deer. Not for fun but because they need managing. It may come as a surprise to you, but animals need managing to ensure their survival. The countryside needs managing by people that know how to manage it. The countryside should be enjoyed by all (shooters or non-shooters). 99.9% of people are extremely careful where lawful firearms are concearned and I'm sorry you all feel so touched that a bird or two has met its dimise at the hands of a sportsmanwoman whom has probably been partaking in a sport lawfuly. I have always enjoyed shooting and I am proud of my sport, proud of what I do and I activly encourage people to learn about it. Read the fact, contextualise what you read, from both sides, and then give an opinion. If you can't do that, stay in front of the TV and watch the countryside from your sofa on a Sunday evening, you'll learn 'everything you need to know'.
jo mc
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 06:16 PMAndrew 123456789.............. These birds live wild in their natural environment and are shot for FOOD. Every bird, no excuses.,,,,,,,, what a load of bull !!!! .......... excuse me I AM VEGETARIAN , I take it you enjoy this barbaric blood sport ?? ............ I, ALSO GO SABBING AT THE HUNTS , to stop the pathetic toffs from killing our wildlife AND WHAT A NASTY BUNCH OF PATHETIC TOFFS THEY ARE AND VICIOUS ..... BY THE WAY ARE YOU ONE OF THESE TOFFS ??
Mr Good Guy
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 06:10 PMlove to know were the beauty spot is around wigan
Andrew123456789
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 04:06 PMThese birds live wild in their natural environment and are shot for FOOD. Every bird, no excuses. I bet kit and jo mc don't shy away from the 2 for a fiver whole chicken deal in Tescos... The battery chicken industry you support when you pile into in KFC are reared in the dark, in cages where they can not even turn around..... Suggest you divert your ignorance to some real animal welfare if that is indeed what you claim to be arguing for......
Kit Davidson Animal Aid
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 11:00 PMThe Code of Good Shooting Practice is a list of everything that is wrong with shooting. What is clearly inadequate here is the law. It prevents the discharging of firearms within 50 feet of the centreline of a public highway. An offence is only comitted if there was intent to injure, impede or harass a passer-by. Strangely, public footpaths are not defined as public highways for the offence. Shooters may stand on the footpath or shoot over it. This is a foul, cruel blood sport. Its participants pay considerable sums to kill for pleasure and they repeatedly ride roughshod over anyone who gets in the way.
phillykenny
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 08:26 PMI was walking down said path last thursday with my dog and decided to have a smoke,i took a cig out,lit it an had about two puffs when it was shot out of my mouth by some idiot with a shotgun,now im all for legalised shoots but shooting cigarettes out of innocent bypassers mouths is very irresponsible and i will be taking this up with dave whelan in the morning.
JemmyH
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 08:14 PM'a local resident whose windows have been broken and slates smashed by stray shot on previous occasions.' ........ If this claim is true, it would take a direct shot from a shotgun to break a window and, certainly, a pretty close range shot to break a slate. ..... A firearm shouldn't be discharged in close proximity to a public footpath, but to jump on the bandwagon with silly claims is stupidity.
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