News RSS Feed


Ex-mayor denies law broken in fox mayhem

9:59am Wednesday 30th January 2008

comment Comments (11)   Have your say »


THE former mayor of an Amman Valley community who took part in what some Glanaman residents are claiming was an illegal fox hunt on Saturday morning has denied any laws were broken.

Angry residents of Llwyncelyn Road say they were "disgusted" after dogs from Amman Valley Fox Control pursued a fox into the street.

But Glanaman town councillor Emyr Jenkins maintains members of the AVFC were innocently exercising their hounds on land they had been given permission to use when two of the animals broke away after picking up the scent of the fox.

"Two of our officials went down to stop them and the fox got away," he said. "What happened is obviously unfortunate."

People living in Llwyncelyn Road confronted members of the AVFC after baying hounds ran down their street and invaded their gardens.

"Things got a bit emotive and one of our followers was assaulted by locals," said Mr Jenkins.

"People's opinions tend to be clouded by emotional issues. To say the dogs were out of control is a bit strong."

Mr Jenkins, who is treasurer of the AVFC, said they were sorry if locals were frightened.

Print article » Email to a friend »

Your Say YourSouth Wales Guardian

C A Gregory, llwyncelyn road says...
9:27pm Wed 30 Jan 08

As a resident ,I would like to say that there were more than two dogs chasing the fox. If these people were just exercising their dogs, why were they carrying a hunting horn? As for being under control, the dog owners were several hundred yards away. The dogs came very close to my property where we have a dog.I can tell you I was very distressed by all the noise and the scene i witnessed. I can understand why thing got heated. If they want to control fox numbers why don't they just shoot them which is the most efficient method and less hassle for the residents.

Report this post »

Anon, Kent says...
10:18am Thu 31 Jan 08

Either the dogs were under control while hunting the fox or they were out of control - what is it?

I am appauled by this

Report this post »

Belinda Jenkins, Glanamman says...
12:42pm Thu 31 Jan 08

I would wonder anybody feels it is necessary to lie about how many dogs were "terrorising a street". I also find it strange the when the pack of hounds are together in their kennels, I am able to hear them displaying general dog like behviour, but on Saturday but on Saturday, when they were technically much closer to my home in a "pack" I couldn't here a thing.

Strangely enough I also thought that using a horn was a method of controlling a pack of hounds, just as I use a a whislt to control my Springer Spaniel.

What a sorry state of affairs for a village like Glanamman, that people can't agree to disagree on a matter such as this.

Report this post »

anon, llwyncelyn road says...
5:59pm Fri 1 Feb 08

Living in Llwyncelyn I could hear the dogs even though I was indoors, the dogs were making a lot of noise but as Mrs B Jenkins lives in Pen-y-Bont then I am not surprised she couldn't hear them! If asked I can assure you that most of Llwyncelyn rd who were at home on saturday morning will confirm that there were a PACK of dogs not just the two as Mr Jenkins stated.

Report this post »

Dave Michael, Garnant says...
10:31pm Fri 1 Feb 08

The Guardian Opinion was quite correct to highlight the ineffective fox hunting law, which has enabled the continuation of fox hunting through exploitation of the many loopholes.
However, last weeks disturbance of the peace at Llwyncelyn Road, Glanamman, was at best, inconsiderate. I know all of the people involved and it should be said that these are respectable law abiding citizens who have every right to be upset by the assault on their neighbourhood, by something that they find intolerable.
Those involved in hunting are aware that there are many who find it extremely distasteful and immoral. It is a poor reflection on them, that they show such disrespect as to flaunt their arrogance, by invading the neighbourhood of people who they know will be greatly distressed by their actions.

Report this post »

Anon., Ammanford says...
12:45pm Sat 2 Feb 08

I find it rather bemusing that when I walk my dog, I have to have it firmly on a lead and carry a bag to dispose of it's waste.
I think that from now on, I'll walk all my neighbours' dogs at the same time, so that I won't have to go to all the trouble of clearing up after them and keeping them under control; it is clear from this event that a pack of dogs are far less dangerous than a dog on its own.
I wonder how long it will be before I get an ASBO?

Report this post »

Anon, Glanamman says...
12:26pm Mon 4 Feb 08

reply to belinda jenkins. If you can hear the dogs in the kennels from Tabernacle Rd then I would suggest that you waste no time in contacting the Noise Abatement Society or the local council offices and complain. Without wanting to appear rude I would also suggest you spent some time in revising your grammar as it was quite difficult to understand what was written on this site

Report this post »

Anon, Carmarthenshire says...
4:57pm Mon 4 Feb 08

The level of maturity displayed in this argument, when "anon" people feel it necessary to publicise the address of somebody who at least had the conviction of putting their name to a comment, and needing to point out what are clearly typing errors. Perhaps I could also point out you should use capital letters when typing names...

I'd better not include my name, seems too be the stule of the forum.

Report this post »

Gregory Rickard, Glanamman says...
6:08pm Mon 4 Feb 08

Why do people need a large group of dogs for hunting when the law says that hunting with more than 2 dogs is illegal. It seems strange that a large group of people should all be in the same place at the same time to exercise their hounds. I was on Llwncelyn Road on that Saturday and I counted 6 dogs that came towards me totally out of control, it was in fact some 10 minutes later that anyone from the "control" team arrived, I also walked the public footpath to the rear of my house later and was passed by a group of 20+ dogs with not a soul in sight. In fact the closest person to me was some quarter of a mile away on the mountain side shouting at the top of his voice and not a single dog listening to a command that was being uttered. Did the Amman Valley Fox Control think of the consequences of letting their hounds run wild so close to private property and also so close to a major road A474 Ammanford to Neath. Did they consider the carnage this might have caused had the dogs reached the main road less than 100 metres away. As far as Councillor Jenkins is concerned as a Labour representative I was under the impression that Labour Party policy according to Tony Blair was to ban fox hunting. As ex Mayor and a prominent member of the local community would it not be better if Councillor Jenkins distance himself from such contentious issues especially with hir re-election to the council due in May of this year.

Report this post »

Anon, Carmarthenshire says...
10:06am Tue 5 Feb 08

Tony Blair stepped down from office some time ago. I believe it is Gordon Brown who now is leader of the Labour Party.

Perhaps now people will be a little less apathetic and actully turn out to vote, when given the opportunity.

Report this post »

D. Jones, Glanamman says...
7:09pm Tue 5 Feb 08

It is not essential to this debate whether the locals are able to spell, who has perfect grammar, or whether people turn out to vote. I doubt whether the foxes think of these things whilst they are running for their lives.
It probably is important though, that we do not support councillors or any other officials who are willing to participate, or be seen to be participating in such cruel behaviour.
I'm sure that Mr Jenkins would agree that elected officials should be seen to adhere to the law and behave responsibly at all times.

Report this post »

Comments are closed on this article.

In this section

Essential Links

Sponsored Links



Local Advertisers


Local Information

Enter your postcode, town or place name

House prices »   Schools »   Crime »   Hospitals »