Fox hunting

The request was partially successful.

Dear Lake District National Park Authority,

As you don't request that the packs demonstrate that they can drag hunt, what method do you use to confirm that the packs are acting with the hunting act 2004 and the licence agreement?

Yours faithfully,

Mike Aistrop

Dear Lake District National Park Authority,

I am still waiting for a response on any investigation you have carried out following reports of illegal hunting taking place on National park land.

Please can you tell me when I will receive the information?

Yours faithfully,

Mike Aistrop

Dear Mike

Thank you for your e-mail which I have forwarded to our Legal Tem for them to respond to directly.

Kind regards

Chris Knight
Contact Centre Adviser
Lake District National Park Authority
+44 (0)1539 724555
www.lakedistrict.gov.uk

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Denise De-Gier,

Dear Mr Aistrop

Please find below, response in relation to the above matter:

"Upon receiving a complaint we follow up by requesting any additional
evidence, and then following up the complaint with the pack concerned. We
also then go back to the complainant to let them know the outcome. If
they suspect that the law has been broken, then we ask them to contact the
police. We hold regular liaison meetings with Cumbria Constabulary, and
our policy is to share all relevant information with the police, since
they are best placed to investigate breaches of the law.”

I hope this information provides you with a satisfactory response.

If you are unhappy with the way the Authority has handled your request,
you may ask for an internal review with the Head of Legal Services.
Please contact me if you would like me to arrange an internal review of
your case.

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have
the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a
decision. The details for the Information Commissioner are:

Information Commissioner’s Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

If you have any queries in relation to this matter please do not hesitate
to contact me.

Kind regards

Denise De-Gier

Legal Secretary

Lake District National Park Authority

Murley Moss

Oxenholme Road

Kendal

Cumbria

LA9 7RL

 

T: 01539 792692

F: 01539 740822

E:[1][email address]

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Dear Denise De-Gier,

Thanks for the reply.

I just wondered if you had any written reports for your investigations and if so can I get copies?

The other thing that I don't think you have fully answered is how YOU know with out doubt hunting parks are actually NOT just continuing as normal.

Yours sincerely,

Mike Aistrop

Dear Denise De-Gier,

My question is before you award the licence to a pack/hunt, how do you know that they are not intent on breaking the law and how do you ensure they don't

Yours sincerely,

Mike Aistrop

Denise De-Gier,

Hello Mr Aistrop

Thank you for your email of 21 May 2011. We acknowledge your request and I have forwarded it onto our Property Services Department for a response.

You will receive a written reply by 20 June 2011. This is in line with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004.

Our information and Records Management Policy is available on our website at www.lakedistrict.gov.uk

In the Meantime if you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Kind Regards

Denise De-Gier
Legal Secretary
Lake District National Park Authority
Murley Moss
Oxenholme Road
Kendal
Cumbria
LA9 7RL

T: 01539 792692
F: 01539 740822
E:[email address]

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Dear Denise De-Gier,

Could you please send me any of the trial plans you received from the packs who used your land.

Yours sincerely,

Mike Aistrop

Dear Denise De-Gier,

The hunting act states that "if an individual knowingly permits land which belongs to him to be entered or used in the course of the commission of a hunting offence will themselves be guilty of the offence of assisting hunting under the Hunting Act 2005". Therefore, once again I ask how do you know without a shadow of doubt that the packs with licences on your (tax payers land) are not hunting as normal. So far nobody has been able to clarify this!

The interesting fact is that hounds who are trained to hunt foxes will not be able to follow a trial.

Yours sincerely,

Mike Aistrop

Charlotte Kimber,

Dear Mr Aistrop

Thank you for your enquiries of 24 May 2011. The Lake District National Park Authority does not knowingly permit land which belongs to it to be entered or used in the course of the commission of a hunting offence. The licence grants the right to enter our land for the purpose of trail hunting and exercising hounds.

We have no evidence from our own monitoring or that of any other party that our land is being used for any other purpose than the legal activity permitted in the annual licence.

With regards to your enquiry regarding the trail plans, Fixture Cards have been accepted in lieu of trail plans.

I hope this information provides you with a satisfactory response. If you are unhappy with the way the Authority has handled your request, you may ask for an internal review with the Head of Legal Services. Please contact me if you would like me to arrange an internal review of your case.

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review you have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. The details for the Information Commissioner are:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF

If you have any queries in relation to this matter please do not hesitate to contact me.

Charlotte

Charlotte Kimber PGDipSurv
Surveyor
Lake District National Park Authority

Direct Dial:   01539 792698 ext 2742
Head Office: 01539 724555
Mobile:        07825 193907
 
[email address]

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Dear Charlotte Kimber,

"The licence grants the right to enter our land for the purpose of trail hunting and exercising hounds" - What is the difference between the two and how do you (the authority) know which is being carried out?

"We have no evidence from our own monitoring" - how often have you monitored the packs with licences per season since the ban, I would like the actual numbers for this by year and venue.

"or that of any other party" what other parties?

"that our land is being used for any other purpose than the legal activity permitted in the annual licence" - How would you know if the packs where not exercising or following a trail?

"With regards to your enquiry regarding the trail plans, Fixture Cards have been accepted in lieu of trail plans" - Four questions here:

First, as above - ow would you know if the packs where not exercising or following a trail?

Second, what about when they just turn up (fell side for example) when the meet card may say they should be a littletown. Does the licence allow this to happen or are they only permitted to use the land on the dates stated on the meet card?

Third, Have any of the packs breached the licence agreements in terms of allowable number of vehicles on the licenced ground for example, if so what action did you take?

Forth, do you allow for terrier men to be present on your land during 'hound exercise or trail hunting'?

Yours sincerely,

Mike Aistrop

Yours sincerely,

Mike Aistrop

Denise De-Gier,

Dear Mr Aistrop

Thank you for your email on 16 June 2011 following on from Ms Kimber's response regarding your four questions in relation to the above matter.

We acknowledge your request and you will receive a written reply by 14 July 2011. This is in line with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004.

Our information and Records Management Policy is available on our website at www.lakedistrict.gov.uk

In the Meantime if you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Kind regards

Denise De-Gier
Legal Secretary
Lake District National Park Authority
Murley Moss
Oxenholme Road
Kendal
Cumbria
LA9 7RL

T: 01539 792692
F: 01539 740822
E:[email address]

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Charlotte Kimber,

Dear Mr Aistrop

Thank you for your questions received on the 16 June 2011.

1. "The licence grants the right to enter our land for the purpose of trail hunting and exercising hounds" - What is the difference between the two and how do you (the authority) know which is being carried out?

The licence covers lawful activity - we do not require the licensees to specify which activity they are undertaking.

2. "We have no evidence from our own monitoring" - how often have you monitored the packs with licences per season since the ban, I would like the actual numbers for this by year and venue.

We do not hold this information.

3. "or that of any other party" what other parties?

The police monitor activity - you would have to contact them for more details of this.

4. "that our land is being used for any other purpose than the legal activity permitted in the annual licence" - How would you know if the packs where not exercising or following a trail?

We would expect suspicious activity to be reported to the police, who would then contact us.

With regards to your enquiry regarding the trail plans, Fixture Cards have been accepted in lieu of trail plans" - Four questions here:

1 First, as above - how would you know if the packs where not exercising or following a trail?

We would expect suspicious activity to be reported to the police, who would then contact us.

2 Second, what about when they just turn up (fell side for example) when the meet card may say they should be a littletown. Does the licence allow this to happen or are they only permitted to use the land on the dates stated on the meet card?

The licensees are required to contact us in advance of any date/venue change.

3 Third, have any of the packs breached the licence agreements in terms of allowable number of vehicles on the licenced ground for example, if so what action did you take?

There has been discussion with the licensees over vehicles on the common, agreement was reached and no action was necessary.

4 Fourth, do you allow for terrier men to be present on your land during 'hound exercise or trail hunting'?

No terriers are permitted under the licence.

I hope this information provides you with a satisfactory response. If you are unhappy with the way the Authority has handled your request, you may ask for an internal review with the Head of Legal Services. Please contact me if you would like me to arrange an internal review of your case.

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review you have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. The details for the Information Commissioner are:

Information Commissioner's Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

I do need to draw your attention to our Information and Records Management Policy, which can be found at the link below: http://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/index/abo... . We have now accumulated over 18 hours staff time answering your requests and therefore we will be charging for our time for further requests.

Yours sincerely

Charlotte

Charlotte Kimber PGDipSurv

Surveyor

Lake District National Park Authority

Direct Dial: 01539 792698 ext 2742

Head Office: 01539 724555

[mobile number]

[email address]<mailto:[email address]>

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Dear Charlotte Kimber,

Would it be possible to meet face to face and talk about this issue?

We are already talking to a number of stakeholders and would like to include you in this discussion?

Yours sincerely,

Mike Aistrop

Charlotte Kimber,


Thank you for your email, I am currently away from the office on maternity leave. During my absence please contact either Martin Sleath, Assistant Surveyor ([email address]) or Martin Curry, Head of Property Services ([email address])

Many thanks

Charlotte

Martin Sleath,

1 Attachment

Hello
I'm away until Tuesday the 30th of August. I will reply as soon as I am able on my return, but if the matter is urgent, please try the Contact Centre on 01539 724555 / [email address].

Regards - Martin Sleath (Assistant Surveyor)

Martin Sleath,

Dear Mr Aistrop

Thank you for your email of 23 August addressed to my colleague Charlotte Kimber. Please note that Charlotte is currently on maternity leave and that I will be dealing with your enquiries in the meantime.

I have read the series of email correspondence from you under Freedom of Information requests. We are of course happy to continue to respond to FOI enquiries but I note that we have advised you of our intention to charge for our time in relation to future responses. (Please note that this response will not be charged for.) I note your most recent request to meet up and discuss this issue. Given the detail that we have already supplied you with, we are of the view that there is little further information that we can add. However, if you would like to outline your outstanding concerns I will of course respond, given the charging condition referred to above. I note your reference to other stakeholders and would be grateful if you could advise us if your intention to meet would be as a round-table discussion with all stakeholders present.

Yours sincerely - Martin

Martin Sleath
Assistant Surveyor
Lake District National Park Authority

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