Wigan Council last night voted to ask Defra to look again at their evidence relating to Ruddy Duck culls and to consult with various named persons (including myself and Leigh OS). It will all be in the Wigan Evg Post tomorrow.

23.3.07 - well it wasn't in the Post (despite my doing an interview) but here's the statement issued by Counc. Franzen:
RUDDY DUCK  Following a four month campaign, led by Community Action Party leader Councillor Peter Franzen, an Extraordinary Meeting of Wigan Council was held on 21st March 2007 to debate the issue of the proposed cull of the Ruddy Duck population on Wigan and Leigh flashes. At the meeting, in an amazing display of cross party unity, the following motion was passed unanimously: QUOTE“This Council requests DEFRA to reconsider its decisions permitting the culling of the Wigan Ruddy Duck population in Wigan and elsewhere in Britain that could adversely affect the Wigan Ruddy Duck population, and calls for the implementation and completion of a proper examination of the validity of the claimed reasons for the cull and an investigation of all the up to date scientific information including the research and observations of internationally renowned bird expert Tom Gullick, the County Bird Recorder for Greater Manchester, Judith Smith, the Leigh Ornithological Society, the RSPCA, Animal Aid and other wildlife organisations.”UNQUOTE Wigan Council’s Chief Executive will now write to DEFRA advising them of the Council’s request  Wigan Council also voted to recommend the Council’s ruling Cabinet to reverse its decision to allow the cull on Council owned land at least until the end of the breeding season and to obtain further evidence and advice on the matter. Councillor Peter Franzen said: QUOTEThanks to “People Power” and the support of conservationists and animal welfare groups we have saved the Wigan Ruddy Duck population at least until September 2007 and hopefully beyond. The decision of Wigan Council to request DEFRA to reconsider its policy and in particular to conduct a proper examination and consider up to date expert advice on the matter is a significant victory for the campaign to save the Ruddy Duck not only in Wigan but also nationally. 

It is now up to us all during the coming months to put pressure on The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) and the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to reverse their policy of exterminating Britain’s Ruddy Ducks.”

-- Edited by Judith Smith at 21:43, 2007-03-23