A CAMPAIGN aimed at preventing a widespread cull of badgers in the Five Valleys has been backed by Stroud Town Council.

More than 80 landowners including author Jilly Cooper have joined lobby group Stroud 100 to oppose the shooting of badgers after a Government-led national cull was announced to tackle the spread of bovine TB.

Group founders Jeanne and Nick Berry aim to sign up 100 members before writing to the Government to demonstrate the strength of feeling in Stroud.

The couple, who live in Slad, met with town councillors at a meeting on Monday night after which members agreed unanimously to block culling on council-owned land across the town, which amounts to around 25 acres.

So far around 1,200 acres is protected under the scheme, including private woodland owned by Jilly Cooper in Bisley.

The group was set up in response to last month’s announcement by the Government’s agriculture minister Jim Paice that a pilot badger cull would be staged in parts of west Gloucestershire later this year.

"We are flabbergasted with the amount of support we have received from those wanting to join Stroud 100 and were over the moon at getting to 1,000 acres so soon in our campaign," said Jeanne.

"It proves that whilst everyone recognises TB in cattle is a terrible disease, they also know that culling badgers is not the real answer."

Under the Government trial, which has the backing of the National Farmers' Union, landowners in the Forest of Dean and Tewkesbury, as well as parts of west Somerset, can apply for licenses to participate in mass shooting exercises beginning in the autumn.

Speaking on Monday night, Stroud mayor John Marjoram said attempting to eradicate bovine TB by simply shooting badgers flew in the face of decades of research which had been carried out at the Government’s Woodchester Park Research Station in Nympsfield.

Former mayor Cllr Kevin Cranston added: "Killing some badgers in one area will only mean they will disperse and continue to spread TB if they have it in them.

"It is solving the wrong problem in the wrong way."

Mrs Berry said: "People have been coming forward offering us help with our campaign and it is great to know there is strong support in Gloucestershire for Badgers.

"We would love to hear from more people who might like to join us."

For information about the Stroud 100 campaign, contact Jeanne on 01452 813168 or email nickberry83@yahoo.co.uk