Business owners, politicians and resident s came together at a meeting to oppose a proposal by the Welsh Government to restrict the release of game birds.

Over 100 people were in attendance at the meeting in Llangedwyn Village Hall as the people there voiced their discontent with the proposals by Natural Resources Wales.

The plans would introduce a licensing system for the release of pheasants and red-legged partridge in Wales and are currently in a 12-week consultation process.

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The meeting’s organiser, local resident Dan Munford, said: “There are significant concerns in the local area of the job losses and economic damage from a restriction in shooting.

“We wanted to invite the key stakeholders to speak to the local politicians and community to ensure the potential consequences are recognised and acknowledged.”

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Representatives from the British Association for Shooting and Conservation, Countryside Alliance, Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust and National Gamekeepers’ Organisation spoke of concerns they had over damage that could be caused to conservation, the local economy and rural communities through restricting shooting.

They were joined by local Conservative politicians, Craig Williams, MP for Montgomeryshire and Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister; Russell George, MS for Montgomeryshire; and Simon Baynes, MP for Clwyd South.

Representatives from each shooting organisation spoke of the importance of responding to the consultation and having the voices on the ground heard.

A spokesperson for the shooting organisations said: “The NRW consultation is the biggest threat to shooting that Wales has seen to date. It is essential to respond to this if you are involved either directly or indirectly with shooting in Wales.

 “It was great to get in front of a packed hall and speak to those who would be affected the most should the Welsh Government ban the releasing of gamebirds in Wales. It will be catastrophic for rural communities across Wales both in terms of conservation and the economy and, of course, people’s health and wellbeing.” 

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