Hunt generates money for local economy (From Chard & Ilminster News)

Hunt generates money for local economy

11:05am Friday 12th January 2007 in Postbag By Letter writer

I REFER to a letter in last week's Postbag about the Boxing Day Hunt meet.

It's a tradition that has taken place year in year out for generations in our town. I do not hunt myself, or even ride a horse, however I totally disagree with the comments titled Who Pays for Hunt?' It would have cost the taxpayers a pittance to sweep a bit of horse muck up, and the pros far outweigh the cons. There's no doubt that the local hunt and those who turn out generate money into our local economy. Surely local pubs and shops that opened must have benefited that day? And, as far as traffic is concerned, any driver with any common sense and reasonable understanding of the highway code should be able to cope with animals in the road, especially when travelling at low speed.

Why should the hunt have to ask a few visitors from outside for the authority to meet? Everyone's entitled to their view, it's just a shame a few killjoys try to spoil this important local beneficiary and tradition.

W. CHURCHILL, Crewkerne Road, Chard.