A CHARITY group is planning to offer a badger immunisation programme throughout Northwich and Delamere as a viable alternative to culling.

The Wirral and Cheshire Badger Group (WCBG) are sending two of their members on training courses to enable them to safely inoculate badgers against Bovine Tuberculosis.

Group secretary, Jane Cullen, said the move would allow them to approach farmers and landowners who are willing to pay to have badgers on their land immunised, rather than paying for a cull.

The group hope to expand the work being carried out by the Cheshire Wildlife Trust, creating a ‘firewall’ against the northern spread of the disease.

“The Cheshire Wildlife Trust has covered a lot of land in the south of the county, and we’re hoping to farmers on neighbouring land to expand that protected zone,” said Jane.

“We support immunisation because we know that it works. We don’t agree with culling.”

WCBG are among local wildlife groups urging Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWAC) to initiate an inoculation programme.

CWAC decided to set up a scrutiny committee to consider all options on how to deal with Bovine TB, including a possible cull, at a meeting on October 17.

Both charities cite the potential cost of a cull – pointing to missed targets in the pilot cull underway in Gloucestershire and Somerset.

“The costs of a cull in the south west are spiralling,” said Jane.

“The cost of policing the cull alone is very high. At the moment it’s running at around £4 million.

“You find it hard to believe Cheshire West is in two minds about it. How can you be?

“Especially seeing what’s going on in the south west, it’s clear that shooting just doesn’t work.”

To find out more about Wirral and Cheshire Badger Group, visit wcbg.org.uk