Change in horse fly-grazing law welcomed by Committee
21 November 2014
The Environment Food and Rural Affairs Committee today welcomes proposed changes in the law to solve growing problems resulting from illegal fly-grazing of horses.
The Committee joins the Government in backing a private Member’s Bill to introduce new controls, enabling quicker removal of horses left to graze on private land without permission.
The Bill, promoted by Julian Sturdy, MP for Outer York, would also cut the time before landowners can act from 14 days to about four. The Bill introduces provisions similar to those introduced in Wales earlier this year and previous law changes in the Republic of Ireland.
Welcoming the Government’s support for the Bill, Committee Chair Anne McIntosh MP said: "It is clear that the number of horses being left to graze on private land has grown significantly in recent years, and we are glad that action to make it easier to deal with that is being supported by Defra and the Government. It would be helpful if the action taken in Ireland to deal with this problem were matched."
The Committee took evidence from landowners, farmers, animal welfare groups and gypsy and traveller organisations in September, and is today publishing a letter from Lord de Mauley, the animal welfare Minister, setting out the Government’s support for tighter controls.