Last year, we saw a risk assessment written by the Mendip Farmers Hunt for their Boxing Day Meet. We went along on the day, and caught them completely ignoring it. We collected evidence, and sent a file to Priddy Parish Council. On October 9th, we spoke at a Parish Council meeting. We made sure the parish council knew that for two years, Somerset Council had been trying to engage with the hunt over road safety and the hunt has blanked them.

Unusually, the councillors discussed it at the time. One councillor said he had also been at the meet, and he too had noted the failure to follow the risk assessment. They said they’d contact the hunt and ask them to improve.

Since then, two of the hunt’s hounds have been struck by cars on a main road; the hunt was caught  chasing a fox through Priddy village, past the Village Hall and the Green itself; and they have caused traffic disruption on the A39. A terrier man for the hunt has admitted blocking badger setts. Sam Colbourn (Hunt Master) has a conviction for public order offenses during a hunt. 

Can they be trusted to organise a safe event? Are they a “legal trail hunt”? We don’t think so.

 

Here is the email I received on 2 December from said RACHEL THOMPSON, telling me that the meet will go ahead with no scrutiny at all of the risk assessment or the insurance. Rachel Thompson is a hunt supporter (see below).

Dear Pip

Thank you for your email. Reponses as follows to your questions relating to the Boxing Day Hunt Meet on Priddy Green.

1) Has Priddy Parish Council received confirmation that the meet of the Mendip Farmers hunt will take place on the Green on Boxing Day 2024? YES (verbally)

2) Has Priddy Parish Council suggested amendments to the hunt’s risk assessment (as per the discussion at the council meeting in October)? NO. The Parish Council has discussed the matter with its insurers and the MFH and again at the November meeting. PPC is advised that matters such as risk, liability and insurance lie with the organisers of third party events.

3) Has the Mendip Farmers Hunt submitted a risk assessment? NO, it is a matter for them. PPC are advised that MFH have carried out a risk assessment.

4) If so, please provide a copy. You will need to ask Mendip Farmers Hunt.

Pip, please be advised again that following more evidence and advice the PPC can only reiterate that whilst trail hunting is a lawful pursuit, and the Greens are designated open space / village greens under the Commons Acts, the parish council has no power to ban or deny lawful pursuits and pastimes on the Greens.  Also, the Parish Council does not have jurisdiction over public highways.

Best regards

Rachel Thompson MBE

Clerk’s office

Here, Rachel Thompson talks about spending time with the hunt:

The same low standards are not applied to ANYONE ELSE.

This is what everyone else has to do:

There is no reason why the hunt is an exception. It has also been accepted by Somerset Council that Boxing Day Meets are “events” and not just an informal gathering of a few people.

Mendip Farmers Hunt is a business – Company number 09221938, and their event is a commercial one. They are a member only organisation, and this event is to advertise their business and gain new members. They also collect donations.