It only takes one person to make a decision, but many to bring about changing it.
There are a number of aims about this campaign for changing Sandwell council’s rationale behind culling healthy wildlife.
- To seek scrutiny of Sandwell Council’s decision to kill Canada geese on these parks- where currently there appears to be only biased uninformed opinions of certain council officers with vested personal interests.
- To challenge the misconceptions promoted about the bird by this council and others, and to promote education to the public about goose behaviour.
- To campaign and lobby Sandwell council to never again allow a final solution such as culling of healthy geese to take place in the borough.
This can be achieved through sustained public pressure on those making the decisions, or applying greater scrutiny on an issue which is painfully obvious had none at all. We started the campaign by setting up two separate petitions. The first petition was presented to Sandwell council, in line with their 2014-2015 petition scheme- this is the council’s own rule whereby 1500 signatures can ensure that an issue is brought before a scrutiny committee. The petition called on a senior officer to give evidence before this committee. This was of course our aim. It showed up many weaknesses in the council’s arguments concerning the cull.
Gooseman hands in the petition at Sandwell council house
A second online petition to raise greater awareness of the issue gathered over 3,100 signatures and certainly put Sandwell on a map, where currently no-one really knows where it is outside the West Midlands.
WE BELIEVE THAT THESE PETITIONS AS WELL AS THE BAD PUBLICITY THE COUNCIL RECEIVED MADE THEM RECONSIDER CULLING IN 2015.
Because Sandwell council were still unclear on their culling options in 2016 in the two parks, we again asked for your support in signing another paper petition and another new online one , which focussed more on how the council are managing the parks.
As we have become aware that the captured geese were cruelly executed by having their necks broken at Forge Mill Farm in the Sandwell Valley, we are asking people to BOYCOTT SANDWELL VALLEY FARMS, and consider visiting more ethical tourist attractions, particularly when they also use reindeer at Christmas.
PLEASE CONTINUE TO CONTACT SANDWELL COUNCIL.
A STANDARD LETTER CAN BE DOWNLOADED FROM THIS WEBSITE
We have updated this letter specifically about the slaughter in Sandwell. (CLICK HERE)
This is just a suggestion and you could write your own concise comments and reasons as to why their actions were totally unreasonable.
Please PROTEST TO – SANDWELL COUNCIL, Sandwell Council House, Oldbury B69 3DE.
MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT.
The two main elected members of parliament for the area are Adrian Bailey MP, who represents West Bromwich West- and whose constituency covers Victoria Park Tipton.
Office of Adrian Bailey MP
Terry Duffy House
Thomas Street
West Bromwich
B70 6NT
(Please note his constituency secretary is Councillor Maria Crompton.)
Direct email address
Tom Watson MP covers West Bromwich East in which Dartmouth park and the Sandwell Valley are located.
Office of Tom Watson MP
Terry Duffy House
Thomas Street
West Bromwich
B70 6NT
Please contact them only if you live in their constituencies. To contact your own MP on issues of pointless culls such as this, you can find who represents you as a paid public servant by clicking HERE.
PLEASE TELL THEM NEVER TO DO THIS AGAIN AND SAVE SANDWELL’S CANADA GEESE!
