Is Bristol City Council Allowing The Use of Rodenticide on its Allotments Killing foxes and Hedgehogs?

 

After months of attempting to get a straight answer the assumption has to be that it does.

I was told that rodenticides were frowned upon but then learnt that they were being used by allotment tenants and that the council was aware of this. Several people then raised the matter with me as speaking to other allotment holders about using rat poison was met with some aggression -concerns regarding foxes and hedgehogs being poisoned were laughed down.

I was later told that, like myself, concerned allotment holders had not had a single response to their emails.  On Monday, 6th December, 2021 I sent this email to Stewart Laws at Bristol City Council:

"Hello.

Considering a simple response was required back in November and I have heard nothing since I find this disappointing as well as concerning. One allotment holder has emailed Laura Weeks but no response.

The question is quite simple based on the fact that some Council allotment tenants are putting out rat poison: does Bristol City Council allow the use of rodenticides on its allotments?

A simple question I am asking privately rather than involve publicity over rat poisons on allotments  which is about to explode as a subject if -as the allotment tenants claim- the council does allow the use of poisons.

I leave it up to yourselves to respond.

Terry Hooper-Scharf

British Fox Study/UK National Carnivore Advisory"

I sent a request for a response on Wednesday 8th December but after no response sent this email (Thursday 9th December):

Sent to Stewart Laws at Bristol City Council

Hello.

Considering a simple response was required back in November and I have heard nothing since I find this disappointing as well as concerning. One allotment holder has emailed Laura Weeks but no response.

The question is quite simple based on the fact that some Council allotment tenants are putting out rat poison: does Bristol City Council allow the use of rodenticides on its allotments?

A simple question I am asking privately rather than involve publicity over rat poisons on allotments which is about to explode as a subject if -as the allotment tenants claim- the council does allow the use of poisons.

I leave it up to yourselves to respond.

Terry Hooper-Scharf

British Fox Study/UK National Carnivore Advisory"

The claims of environmental and ecological action and pride in its work has taken a few good knocks under Mayor Marvin Rees and it seems a blind eye is turned to the question of rodenticides and the animal deaths they cause ON Bristol City Council allotments.