Conor Lyons's Blog

We must share the guilt of animal cruelty…

Weybourne.
We must share the guilt of animal cruelty
Sir,” I was sad to read the letter from your correspondent complaining about the hard-hitting anti-fox hunting poster.
Children are subjected every day to newspaper and television news bulletins revealing the brutality and ugliness of the world and no matter how hard we try we could never successfully protect our young from the harsh reality of our violent world.
She talks about “innocent people” being dragged in and therefore completely misses the point about hunting with hounds.
It is legal in Britain to inflict the indefensible cruelty of hounding defenceless animals to death and therefore the terrible stain of this brutality is on all our hands.
We have a moral duty to demand that this savagery is outlawed and until we succeed we are all guilty of allowing it. Louise Middledorp
256 Darnley Street,
Pollockshields,
Glasgow.
Canal recreation and ecology
ABOUT STRIKING A BALANCE
Sir,” What a peculiar letter from Mr. Holford of Churt, about the Basingstoke Canal.
From his wording, it would appear he has picked up these rumours secondhand from somewhere.
But would it not have been sensible to go and see for himself, before rushing off a wholly inaccurate letter?
I live only half a mile from the canal, and visit those parts of it nearby regularly.
Last August I walked the entire towpath from Greywell to New Haw, and can report it is in good condition throughout, is very well used except in the most rural parts, and is maintained regularly by the canal authority.
The canal did have an “official opening” last May, but it did not stay open for long.
Shortly after and the Sheerwater section, which has a history of troubles, began leaking, and the canal below St. Johns had to be closed for the rest of the summer.
In August the navigation had to be closed at Ash Lock, in order to conserve water in the Hampshire pound.
It is well known that this canal always had water shortages, even before modern water extraction diverted part of its natural supply at Greywell, and thousands of thirsty trees grew up on its banks on what had been open country in 1790.

Canon Nih scale interne