Rural groups take next step in legal bid to challenge shooting ban

THREE of the UK's leading rural organisations have launched the next stage of their legal action against Natural Resources Wales' (NRW) ban on pheasant shooting on public land.

The British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC), the Countryside Alliance (CA) and the National Gamekeepers' Organisation (NGO) have issued proceedings seeking permission from the High Court to bring a Judicial Review against NRW's decision.

This is the next step after lawyers for the organisations issued a letter before action to NRW last month.

The organisations initially sought legal advice when NRW's board voted not to allow shooting after receiving a letter from Welsh environment minister Hannah Blythyn.

A spokesperson for the three organisations said: "We felt duty-bound to unite and take a stand against something that we feel is fundamentally wrong.

"We are challenging an outcome which appears to run contrary to the evidence from NRW's consultation process and their legal obligations."

ENDS….

For more information:

Contact BASC's press office on 01244 573007 or email [email protected]

Contact James Legge at the CA on 020 7840 9263 or email [email protected]

Contact Charles Nodder at the NGO on 01752 846493.