Save Our Sandwell Canada Geese

We had written an open letter to Adrian Bailey and Tom Watson MP’s for West Bromwich West and East respectively. Both were emailed the letter back in early September using their published email contact addresses, but we did not receive any response from this, so the letter was sent again to both by recorded delivery to Terry Duffy house, where both have their regional Labour party office. We received a rather sparse response from Adrian Bailey not long after, but only last week did we get a reply from the other MP.

In his reply, we do at least get something approaching an opinion, but it sets up the line of Sandwell council regarding the reason why they claimed to have carried out the cull. The problem for them is they have not proven the concern they had with any credible evidence whatsoever, and through Freedom of Information requests it is continuing to unravel as no evidence at all.

Tom Watson states

” I would only support the culling of Canada geese if all other possible options had been exhausted and there were legitimate safety grounds.”

We have shown that this is not the case on this website, and the council have not shown that there are legitimate causes of illness being caused to people using the two parks in question, nor is the water in which the birds are swimming with a host of other species all defecating in the same pot leading to contamination. Indeed it is sometimes the case that human wastes also enter that same melting pot.

The geese are no more a threat to people than any other birds at these site, and the choice of site continues we will argue to be made by one officer with a biased personal interest without consultation with any other officers in Sandwell council as far as we are concerned. Indeed we wonder what qualifications Mr John Satchwell Senior actually holds at all?

In his final paragraph, Mr Watson states that the council did not inform him of the situation, something which appears to confirm the leitmotif of a need to know basis within Maria Crompton’s department. He also states on the reasons for the cull

“I assume it was because of the number of complaints from park users.”

Well of course we now know that in five years the number of complaints at both of these parks totalled a mighty 8- 2 per year between 2011-2014, with none in 2010. We do not know the total content of these letters of complaint, nor if they were all written by the same person with an obsessive personal view on the subject.

Needless to say we will be seeking further representation from Mr Watson on what his thoughts are concerning Sandwell council’s lack of rationale and evidence.

I have asked two freedom of information requests about the cull of geese which took place last year and this year. Another request also revealed a little more information.

This week we have a response to another request. We learn here some significant new information, which once again appears to undo some of the original claims of Sandwell council that they made officially when their pants were first pulled down about their secret cull.

Before discussing this I would like to state that the person making this request is not known to me before this campaign started, and also made this request herself without orchestration.

The request contained within the letter covered several points, which have attempted to rebut and which we will also look at in conclusion. It also set out to scrutinise some of the other FOI request information and statements then made by the council. Once again, the response was dealt with by Streetscene director at SMBC Steve Handley- John Satchwell’s immediate line manager. Only the personal details of the requester have been redacted below.

WHAT WAS ASKED AND WHAT DID THEY KNOW?

1. The number of complaints received from members of the public (as recorded on the Council’s formal complaints recording process) for each year for the last five years concerning geese in Victoria Park Tipton and Dartmouth Park West Bromwich. Please exclude any from John Satchwell and his family

“The number of formal written complaints totalled 8:

• 0 in 2010
• 2 in 2011
• 2 in 2012
• 2 in 2013
• 2 in 2014

In addition to the numbers above, we constantly receive verbal reports from park wardens, gardeners in parks, volunteers and sporting organisations with regards to fouling of amenity areas and sports pitches by Canada geese and their aggressive behaviour during the breeding season – these are not formally recorded. Ultimately a combination of all complaints received led to our decision to undertake a culling programme.”

2. The specific powers under which the culling decision was made, as devolved to the Council by government generally and specifically to the Cabinet member (Maria Crompton) by the authority.

“A licence was granted by Natural England to the company employed to undertake the work. I would refer you to the Natural England technical information Note TIN046 with regard to this

http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/file/96006

Councillor Crompton, as cabinet member for Highways and Environment, has the authority to authorise such actions under delegated powers as assigned in the council’s constitution Part 3 responsibility for functions

The Cabinet Member for Highways and Environment Portfolio Responsibilities are as follows.  “Where not otherwise reserved to the Council, a committee of the Council or other body under the Local Authority Functions Regulations, or where authority has not been delegated to a Chief Officer and, in consultation with a relevant Cabinet Member, as necessary, to take responsibility within the Cabinet for all matters relating to (which includes specific reference to):

• The policy direction for countryside management, nature reserves, parks, green spaces and visitors centres.
• Environmental services including cleansing, grounds maintenance, public conveniences and the maintenance of water courses”.

3. Was Maria Crompton’s decision ultra-vires given geese are not classed as vermin?

“In response to your question I would again refer you to the Natural England web site http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/file/96006 

that legally allows Local Authorities to undertake such action.”

4. If Maria Crompton has acted beyond her powers, what action will be taken to discipline this elected member?

“No action will be taken against Councillor Crompton as cabinet members have the authority to authorise such actions under delegated powers.” 

5. Identify the names of all (if any) wildlife, animal rescue / sanctuary organisations or experts that were approached by the council for advice or support in analysing the most recent issue of excess geese in the parks, and similarly who may have assisted in generating solutions to the problem.

“Officers within the council have appropriate qualifications and experience to advise on such matters and discussions and actions on alternative control methods have taken place; from pricking eggs to planting water margin plants, fencing water edges to discouraging over feeding.  These are tried and tested methods but we have still failed to reduce the numbers to manageable levels within our formal parks. One of the officers spent a number of years working for  the Wild life trust and two colleagues have degrees in Environmental studies.

6. Identify the total number of other culls performed by the Council over the last 5 years, and for each, provide details of the date, the species involved and number of animals per cull, plus the specific powers used to support each decision.

“No other culls have taken place previously to 2013 and 2014 and the powers used are referred to in my response to question 3 and 4.  The number of Canada geese culled during that period has totalled 220. 150 Canada Geese in 2013 from Victoria Park, Tipton and Dartmouth Park, West Bromwich and 70 Canada Geese in 2014 from Victoria Park, Tipton.”

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

Sandwell council made the following statement on their facebook page and also to the media press release at the time in relation to the number of complaints concerning geese in the two parks in question where they were culled.

Maria Crompton is directly quoted;

“I’m very sad we had to do this but people’s safety and public health are paramount. We have done this as a last resort and as humanely as possible in response to repeated complaints and real concerns of park users including parents with young children.”

Maria Crompton in her letter to me dated 14th August 2014 states

“We receive numerous complaints from families with young children complaining about the mess they leave and their aggressive behaviour during the breeding season.”

John Satchwell’s report, designed as a so called “pilot”, and approved by Crompton, but without naming any location stated that a cull should be carried out  and  “to identify two locations where the problems exits.”

THERE IS NO MENTION WHATSOEVER OF COMPLAINTS MADE BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IN HIS REPORT TO BACK UP ANYTHING THAT HE SAYS- OR MORE CRUCIALLY TO JUSTIFY THE CHOICE OF SITES. LET US REMEMBER THAT THE TWO SITES CHOSEN , APPARENTLY BY HIM WERE

(A) VICTORIA PARK TIPTON-  IN WHICH HE LIVES

(B) DARTMOUTH PARK WEST BROMWICH – WHERE HIS SON WAS PROJECT MANAGER.

In question 1 we revealed the lies of Sandwell council and Maria Crompton in isolation. Eight complaints were made in four years, with 0 in 2010 in these two parks. Just eight to justify the murder of 220 birds to make some pathetic scumbag feel better about themselves. We would question how many of these complaints tally for each park, as this is not broken down, and would consider that with such a correlation by year that it is the same individuals or even individual making a repeat complaint.

Whereas the council may have justification in undertaking action on something which is a persistent source of complaint, the number of formal complaints here  does not in any way justify such a final murderous solution. Satchwell’s report was titled “To propose options for the reduction of Canada geese numbers in Urban parks” , yet the subject of complaints never arises, just his own biased and misguided desire to murder geese- without option.

Handley’s subsequent backpedalling on informal complaints is desperate and also pathetic from this director. Informal complaints do not count at all and we do not accept their lack of recording as justification in the unravelling of Sandwell council’s lies. We have spoken to Sandwell parks gardeners at these parks, both past and present, and none have stated that they have made complaints about the geese.

There is also doubt as to the reliability of the information supplied in answer to this request by Sandwell council. Usually, councils refuse to disclose information that would take an excessive amount of time to compile, on cost grounds, yet they are able here to plough through 5 years worth of letters that could be written on all manner of subjects, and cover a broad range of complaints, from geese fouling, to dog fouling. Were the letters entirely complaining about the geese or about bird mess in general? –  We do not have the letters, so we are left to Sandwell council’s reliability on this matter.

2/3/4  In questions 2-4 Sandwell council hide behind a Natural England document that they appear to have found, (or I believe have been advised on by Natural England) subsequent to the cull and not in possession of before it.

Behind the legalise of powers deferred to Crompton, we learn that she had the final say on approving Satchwell’s misguided report, and that she does not appear to have even scrutinised anything that he says within it. WE LEARN THEREFORE THAT SHE IS REPSONSIBLE ULTIMATELY FOR 220 BIRDS BEING MURDERED BASED ON COUNCIL OFFICER LIES, AND THAT SHE HAS BLOOD ON HER HANDS FOR THIS.

THIS IS NOT THE ACTION OF AN ANIMAL LOVER BUT THAT OF SOMEONE ENGAGED IN ANIMAL CRUELTY

5. The claims made by the council concerning alternative control methods, which we do not accept are necessary in any case, have not been rolled out as the council suggest at the two sites in question. At Dartmouth park, the abhorrent cull of geese came before  the erection of metal  fencing around the “duck pond”. It was alleged by Maria Crompton in a letter dated 16th October 2013 , that this fencing was installed as a result of restoring original features of the park- and nothing to do with geese. Furthermore as a result of the complaint that it no longer allowed the birds free movement between the two pools she states

“Whilst it is acknowledged the erection of the fencing did disrupt the bird movement initially, evidence suggests the swans, geese and ducks are adjusting to the physical changes and there has been no detrimental impact to their well being.”

THIS IS THE WOMAN WHO ALLOWED 220 BIRDS TO BE KILLED, AND SIGNED OFF THE MURDER OF A REPUTED 150 IN THIS SAME YEAR, JUST MONTHS EARLIER,BEFORE THE FENCE WAS INSTALLED. DOES SHE HAVE SELECTIVE AMNESIA ABOUT THIS? The detrimental impact of breaking their necks seems to have been forgotten by her.

We know that egg pricking was not being carried out at Dartmouth park in particular for many years, where it would not be uncommon for around 40 goslings to be creched together around the duck pond.

The picture that we have used of goslings grouped together was taken in 2011 at Dartmouth park.

Taken 19th May 2011

Here they are when they were older at the duck pond.

Taken 16th July 2011

The officer at the council who used to work for the wildlife trust- PAUL SMITH SANDWELL CONSERVATION OFFICER WAS ASKED THE DIRECT QUESTION IN A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION THAT I HAD WITH HIM ON   22nd July  2014

“You can’t ever remember any report being written about anything like this about exterminating or culling geese?

“No nothing’s ever come past me, I aught to be told….”

“……I know nothing about this. I would be totally against it.”

WE WOULD NOTE THAT THE CULL AT VICTORIA PARK TIPTON IN 2014 WAS PERFORMED ON A DAY WHEN CHRIS MOORE, MATT DARBY AND PAUL SMITH WERE ALL ALLEGED TO BE ON ANNUAL LEAVE- WAS THIS DELIBERATLEY ARRANGED SO THEY COULD ALL DENY ANY KNOWLEDGE OF EVENTS?

6. We believe that geese went missing from Dartmouth park in 2014 and not 2013 as stated. Individual and distinctive geese disappeared from this site. This just adds to the mystery of why geese on Victoria park Tipton were culled again in such numbers- on the basis of what complaints- 2?

THE WRITTEN LETTER IS DETAILED BELOW. In response to some of the comments made by Steve Handley we respond as follows beneath each page.

•  We do not know if any goslings were culled- and why really should this even matter? THEY ADMIT TO KILLING 220 BIRDS-AGE IS NOT RELEVANT- THEY WERE FLIGHTLESS AND HELPLESS UPTO THE POINT WHEN THEIR NECKS WERE BROKEN BY COWARDS. WE ALSO DON’T TAKE ANY WORD OF THIS COUNCIL AS TRUTH BASED ON EXPERIENCE.
• The officer decision appears to be final- without any scrutiny, or what their motive may be- in John Satchwell’s case a pecuniary one undeclared.
• We are told here that he has lived in Victoria Park for over 40 years. We also know that he started his long career at Sandwell as a gardener. We do not accept Handley’s claim- John Satchwell’s report and subsequent decision to choose this site in his pilot cull has everything to do with him living in this park- only Sandwell council would not see that because they believe themselves to be devoid of criticism and scrutiny over personal declarations of interest, as does their so called “monitoring officer”- little more than a taxpayer funded legal aid for dodgy councillors.
• So the geese were not and are not fouling on the grass near his house (on amenity grassland that his report speaks of). So now we know the truth.

•  Geese in the areas in question are not “migratory” in the real sense of the word. They moult at the sites in the summer- when the council takes this opportunity to catch them in large numbers. The inconsistency in the numbers shows a rubbish understanding of the birds; movements- one not based upon any observation at all- just wild guess work from office based turd holes in Sandwell’s parks department.
• In terms of egg pricking- evidence above confirms Sandwell council’s and Steve Handley’s claims to be incorrect and not based on fact at all.

LIES, DAMNED LIES AND STATISTICS- SHOULD BE THE MOTTO OF SMBC

News this week of the return of a strain of bird flu to the UK should not really come as a surprise, and neither should the timing of the announcement, just in time for Christmas when sales will no doubt be at their peak of this fairly shabby and sick industry.

Turkeys, chickens and ducks are kept in squalid cramped conditions in such farms; evidence of the industry has been exposed on many occasions with undercover footage of such.

Predictably however with the H5n8 strain identified, so we get the scapegoat wild bird being blamed for what will be a profitable compensation scheme for those involved in this feathered stock loss. Have any wild birds been found dead and identified as having the strain of flu?

Whatever the source of the outbreak, and not withstanding the fairly shocking apathy of one farmer whose chickens were wandering down the lane not far from the outbreak source, one question should be asked in relation to Sandwell Council’s clandestine cull of Canada geese- whereby they were taken into a farm environment from their wild one to be slaughtered by having their necks broken in “goose dispatchers.

Why would a responsible council, or even farmer introduce birds, whose condition could not be identified by being rounded up summarily, without any veterinary assessment, and whereby they admit that no council staff were present at the farms, contemplate taking them into a farm setting? Biosecurity appears to have been left to a group of what can only be described as dodgy characters in the back of a trailer box- who are certainly not averse to telling people lies and spitting on grass themselves.

The news that this same farm are selling farm reared turkeys at this same site, where wild ones were taken for slaughter should raise eyebrows, because I do not see possible how this council can guarantee that biosecurity of this farm was not compromised by the feathers, excrement (of which this council are so unfond of), and straw that appears to have been in the back of the trailer that the birds were contained in.

The pictures sent to me by Senior Countryside Ranger Matt Darby last year of geese at Forge Mill lake show a squalid condition of the gate on the pest exterminators trailer, covered in excrement and feathers. This trailer and its wheels we are then supposed to believe went into the farm to kill the geese.

One has to wonder what conditions turkeys for sale are kept in at Forge Mill farm, but what building were the geese killed in, and where were they incinerated, in relation to where the turkeys were raised and were free to roam?

Moreover, perhaps when considering buying meat from this wild bird  cull zone, people should consider that we have to rely on the honesty of the seller that they are buying what they say they are selling.

The farm at the centre of the bird deaths

Having asked the Food Standards Agency, who oversee such regulation and in the wake of the horse meat scandal, some fairly frank questions about wild birds and domestic reared ones, they appear to be unable to confirm that wild birds, and specifically wildfowl are not on the menu already posing as chicken or turkey. They do not routinely test for this according to this reply. This should be concerning when wild birds are free to fly from poisonous lakes , or ingest toxicants such as lead in the environment and where some individuals are known to have taken them presumably to eat- or maybe to sell on to someone else!

Perhaps the best way to determine that you are not eating wild birds, whose history is not known, and relying on an industry who do not appear to ask many questions about how they are keeping their feathery money piles, is to not part with your money and don’t eat birds at all.

I was told a pack of lies by serial liar John Satchwell who arranged the cull of Canada geese on his park himself, as well as that on Dartmouth park where his son of the same name is project manager, but to what extent did his junior staff conspire with him to present a pack of lies to myself after gate crashing the cowards rounding up of geese at Victoria park Tipton on July 10th 2013? I was told that the geese were released, by senior countryside ranger Matt Darby. If he is now back peddling on this and the geese were not released, but executed as the council now claim, then I was lied to.

I have asked for some clarification on this matter, to which I have as yet received no response, perhaps he has been gagged by the Stasi of Sandwell council. I leave it in the court of public opinion as to the truth of the matter, but know this- I WILL NOT ALLOW THIS LYING COUNCIL TO PERPETUATE THE LIE THAT “NO ONE WAS LIED TO.”

I WAS LIED TO, AND BY DIRECT STATEMENT, SANDWELL COUNCIL ARE CALLING ME A LIAR IF THEY CLAIM THAT I WAS NOT LIED TO ABOUT THE RELEASE OF GEESE AT FORGE MILL LAKE. IT SHOULD ALSO BE STATED THAT IF GEESE WERE RELEASED AT FORGE MILL LAKE, AS APPEARS TO BE SHOWN IN THE PICTURES, AND IN THE VERBAL TELEPHONE CALLS TO MYSELF, THEN THEY HAVE ALSO NOW LIED TO WEST MIDLANDS POLICE.

Dear Matt,

Release of geese July 10th 2013.

Last year I contacted you following the rounding up of Canada geese in Victoria park Tipton, which myself and others directly observed taking place. I was told by contractors PESTEX and John Satchwell Senior that they were being “relocated” to the Sandwell Valley.

Though I did not believe this at the time, I thought that knowing you for some years that I would at least get the truth from you if this had indeed happened, and that the birds were not as I suspected being rounded up for slaughter by these pest exterminators.

I asked you in a phone call if you could take some pictures to prove that the birds had been released. You also appeared to know very little about this arrangement of birds being delivered to the Sandwell Valley.

In this phone call conversation, I asked you if you had seen the birds released at Forge Mill lake by Pestex, and your replied that you had. I asked you how many had been released and you were unsure as “they had all run out quickly” from the Pestex trailer in which they were contained.

You stated that you had taken some pictures on your mobile phone of this and would send them to me via email later that day.

On this same day, I did indeed receive an email from yourself containing 3 picture attachments. These were numbered  2013710_093021, 2013710_093023, and 20130710_093026  respectively. The location of this picture is unmistakably Forge Mill Lake, would you not agree with this?

There are geese exiting the trailer at the ramp part of the lake, with other geese appearing to be in the water as you stated they were when taking the pictures on your mobile phone, would you not agree with this?

The geese would appear to be running out at speed as though spooked by something, and also appear to be a little dishevelled as a result of being contained in this trailer, would you not agree?

They are clearly shown in the picture heading for the water to get out of harm’s way, would you not agree?

On clicking the properties of these 3 attachments, it reveals that picture 1 numbered attachment 2013710_093021 was taken from a Samsung camera – model  GT-I9100P at 9.30   a.m.

Picture 2, numbered attachment 2013710_093023, and was taken from a Samsung camera -model GT-I9100P at  9.30  a.m.

Picture 3  numbered  20130710_093026  was taken from a Samsung camera -model  GT-I9100P at 9.30 a.m.

Can you confirm that you took these pictures from a Samsung Camera- model GT-I9100P on the date and at the times taken at Forge Mill Lake West Bromwich?

Could you further confirm that the email address  mathewrdarby@gmail.com  sent from what I assume to be a mobile phone on 10th July 2013 at 11.15 a.m to your Sandwell . Gov email address matt_darby@Sandwell.gov.uk was/is yours?

Can you confirm that you sent this and the picture attachments 2013710_093021, 2013710_093023, and 20130710_093026  from the mobile to another computer source?

Can you also confirm that you then forwarded this email from the Sandwell .gov address matt_darby@sandwell.gov.uk to my own email address, which was sent at  11.19  a.m on 10th July 2013?

Could you please explain exactly what you saw on this day 10th July 2013, what you were asked to do on the day regarding the arrival of geese at Forge Mill/Sandwell Valley, who instructed you to do this and if this had been prearranged before 10th July 2013, or hastily arranged on the day itself?

The purpose of me asking these forensic questions is that a freedom of information request,

August2014CanadaGeese1-683749012

states that “NO-ONE WAS LIED TO.” This follows my own FOI request where it appears that Sandwell council carried out a clandestine cull of Canada geese at Forge Mill Farm in 2013 and again this year, rounding up birds from Victoria Park Tipton and Dartmouth Park West Bromwich.

Were you Matt telling me the truth, as I suspect you were on 10th July 2013, when you sent me the email containing 3 attachment pictures of geese numbered 2013710_093021, 2013710_093023, and 20130710_093026  respectively taken from your mobile phone Samsung model GT-I9100P  clearly being released at Forge Mill lake from a parked trailer near the ramp?

Can you also tell me the truth as to if these birds were then re-rounded up and killed, between 0930 am when you took the pictures and 11.15 when you sent the email pictures to yourself and then forwarded them to me at 11.19, and if this was the case then I am afraid that I was not told the truth at all and wonder what exactly you or others thought would be gained by lying to myself as to the fate of these birds?

The truth will always come out, and I would very much appreciate that you give me the facts as they stand without protecting others who have landed you in this unwarranted situation which I firmly believe was not of yours, or anyone else at Sandwell Valley’s making.

Confirmation of email sent by Matt Darby 10/7/2013 from his Sandwell.gov email account.

Confirmation of email sent from Mathew Darby’s email account to Matt Darby’s Sandwell.gov account at 11.15 am 10/7/2013, which contains the 3 picture attachments.

Confirmation of properties of make/model of camera and time/date taken

Confirmation of properties of make/model of camera and time/date taken

Confirmation of properties of make/model of camera and time/date taken

Addendum. Timeline

06.14am First see Pest controllers on Victoria park Tipton.

06.39 am Pest controllers start to leave Victoria Park Tipton, supposedly to “relocate” geese to Forge Mill Lake Sandwell Valley.

It would possibly take another 15 minutes to lock up the gates in Queens Road. Another 30 minutes maximum to reach Forge Mill Lake- if we are to believe this is where the birds were taken to.

09.30 am Matt Darby takes 3 pictures of geese being released at Forge Mill lake from the truck that they were supposedly released from.

At least 2.5 hours have now passed since the birds were rounded up and contained within the truck, if we are to believe that the birds were released. If they were contained for this length of time we believe that this contravenes the Animal Welfare Act 2006, as does the manner in which the birds were transported. This law, according to Natural England applies to Canada geese when caught, regardless of where they are being taken to or their prospective fate.

SO WHAT REALLY OCCURED BETWEEN 07.30AM- 9.30 AM ON 10TH JULY 2013?

 Were some geese that were on Forge Mill Lake enticed into the trailer, only for Matt Darby to then take some phoney pictures to send to me later?

From the look of the birds that are near the lake edge, I do not believe this. From my experience they appear to be like birds that have been contained for a period of time and then slightly confused as to where they are, in new surroundings.

They do appear to be running out, as Matt Darby told me that they had. I do not believe it feasible that the geese would walk into a ramp trailer like this, unless they had been herded in there, as they had at Victoria park. Look at the height of clearance up to the trailer ramp. There is no fencing around at Forge Mill lake ramp, so it appears that the birds could only have appeared out of the back of the trailer, rather than walking up into it and then exiting quickly.

The ramp gate appears soiled with feathers, excrement and straw, which gives some idea as to what was happening inside the trailer for the length of time that the birds were contained. A longer period of time- more soiling.

Regardless of whether these were the Victoria park geese, or stooges made to look like them, they were contained in the trailer then released- still breaking the law concerning the release of this “non-native” species. THIS ALSO OF COURSE DOES NOT ADDRESS THE SHEER DECEIT OF THOSE WHO WISHED TO SUGGEST THAT THE BIRDS WERE BEING “RELOCATED”- BUT IT STILL REMAINS MY VIEW THAT THEY WERE- AND THERE IS MORE RECORDED EVIDENCE WHICH SUGGESTS THIS.

We now know, according to evil Sandwell council that after being rounded up from their homes at Victoria park Tipton, and Dartmouth park West Bromwich, that the innocent Canada geese were taken to a promoted family tourist attraction at ForgeMill farm and had their necks broken by crushing their spines in “goose dispatchers”. This according to deluded politicians and Nazi England is a “humane” way of killing off these “pest” species. WELL IT ISN’T.

As the birds were murdered at this farm, which in itself uses animals as a commodity to be viewed, slaughtered and body parts sold off, we ask all those who support our campaign to boycott going there. This includes paying any entrance fee towards Sandwell council’s coffers. They have misused taxpayers money to carry out these clandestine culls.

The streetway scene and the Gregorian druid chant room complete with stuffed geese hanging upside down has always been a bit creepy at the park farm.

If you want to see farm animals other sites offer similar attractions. They do not carry out the killing of healthy wildlife.

So a reply to the email originally sent on  7th September (no reply), and then resent by letter to the MP for West Bromwich West which covers Victoria Park Tipton. I asked a number of questions of the two MPs, the other being Tom Watson of West Bromwich East that covers Dartmouth park and Sandwell Valley- where the birds were taken to and killed on  Forge Mill Farm. I also asked for something that most people have, one way or another on this issue, and also about Canada geese in general. AN OPINION.

Frankly what we get here is absolutely nothing. Talking to a brick wall or a garden knome for that matter might have yielded an actual thought, but nothing from this former Sandwell councillor, whose secretary is Maria Crompton- culler in chief of geese at this evil council. The words are hers, and we have heard them already regarding “humane” killing.

We now know of course that the geese were reported to have had their necks broken, according to a freedom of information request response that has been several weeks in the making. (More on this next week). The same councillor however was unable on live radio to state how the birds were killed, which leaves one with the impression that this story is one of ongoing invention after some thought by a number of different parties, which may involve Natural England and even the police for that matter.

The company carrying out the murder of geese do not need to be “licenced”. There is no such thing here, but it sounds good doesn’t it. The council or company need a “general licence”, but are not in themselves licenced. The same MP responded in a similar vein concerning rattlechain lagoon, that has killed dozens of birds through industrial poisoning by a Langley firm, both in his constituency. That company were also “licensed”… to spill. That the current  deputy mayor of Dudley, and a former Mayor of Sandwell’s wife work for and used to work for the company and are both members of the Labour party, does that come into it… no surely not?

Direct questions asked in our open letter included

“I would therefore appreciate your views on this matter from this open letter, and I am not asking you to write a pointless letter to Sandwell council for their rehashed lies about Canada geese and invented complaints that they cite to justify this senseless slaughter and misappropriation of taxpayers money. Do you support Sandwell council’s actions in this matter regarding their killing of Canada geese- this is a yes or no answer- there cannot be any half way house.”

Rather than trash the man, I will just leave it to people’s own judgement, preferably through the ballot box next year, as to whether this reveals anyone with any opinion, or one who feels compelled to put on record his on the murder of Canada geese by Sandwell Labour council.

We have received correspondence from someone who has taken time to write to Sandwell council. We will update this in due course when they receive a response (hopefully they will). Please continue to contact Sandwell council about this, they will be hoping it all goes quiet over Christmas. It won’t.

Jan Britton,
Chief Executive SMBC
SANDWELL COUNCIL,
Sandwell Council House,
Oldbury
B69 3DE.

Dear Mr Britton,

Ref Freedom of Information Request re Sandwell council’s cull of Canada geese

I am writing to object in the strongest possible terms to Sandwell Council’s recent cull of some 220 geese taken from Victoria Park Tipton and Dartmouth Park West Bromwich.

I am a lifelong supporter of Greenpeace and the World Wildlife Foundation and someone who values all wildlife in parks. As such I must stress my outrage on learning of the cull performed by SMBC. The reasons given by the council for carrying it out are pathetic. Even if there had been massive numbers of complaints about the geese (which I suspect there were not) the Council could have reduced the number of geese by relocating some to another part of the UK such as a wild fowl sanctuary. Destruction of the geese and their goslings was totally unnecessary and avoidable. There are several wildlife organisations that the Council could have worked with to relocate these beautiful creatures.

I also wish to protest at the lack of scrutiny of the decision prior to its implementation. Once creatures are dead the decision cannot be reversed. As such, your Council members and officers owe it to the public and the animals concerned to pause and scrutinise culling decisions prior to carrying them out. By all accounts the decision making process in this case was merely the presentation of a heavily biased report produced by John Satchwell, senior parks officer, to a misinformed Cabinet member (Maria Crompton) who subsequently gave verbal approval for the cull. It does not appear to have been picked up that Mr Satchwell has a pecuniary interest in removal of geese from Victoria park Tipton, in that he lives in the park and they allegedly foul the grass near his house. Furthermore, there is a shocking lack of reference to any wildlife experts or external organisations who could have generated alternative options.

It is strongly disputed that egg pricking has taken place in Sandwell every year. Similarly, post rationalisations and defensive claims that there were are a thousand canada geese in Sandwell’s parks and open spaces significantly exaggerates the figure of 700 quoted in John Satchwell’s original briefing report. Inflating numbers to defend the indefensible is outrageous.

I have been deeply affected by this cull. I sincerely hope that you will not carry out any more culls in the future.

Turning to the specifics of my freedom of information request, please tell me:

1. The number of complaints received from members of the public (as recorded on the Council’s formal complaints recording process) for each year for the last five years concerning geese in Victoria Park Tipton and Dartmouth Park West Bromwich. Please exclude any from John Satchwell and his family.

2. The specific powers under which the culling decision was made, as devolved to the Council by government generally and specifically to the Cabinet member (Maria Crompton) by the authority.

3. Was Maria Crompton’s decision ultra-vires given geese are not classed as vermin?

4. If Maria Crompton has acted beyond her powers, what action will be taken to discipline this elected member?

5. Identify the names of all (if any) wildlife, animal rescue / sanctuary organisations or experts that were approached by the council for advice or support in analysing the most recent issue of excess geese in the parks, and similarly who may have assisted in generating solutions to the problem.

6. Identify the total number of other culls performed by the Council over the last 5 years, and for each, provide details of the date, the species involved and number of animals per cull, plus the specific powers used to support each decision.

Sandwell council and its contractors have been brought into disrepute by telling members of the public lies about this cull. Sadly it has taken a previous Freedom of Information request to unravel the lies that some Sandwell council officers / members were spinning,. Hence the need to make my enquiries under the Freedom of Information Act.

I wholeheartedly support the campaign group ‘Save our Sandwell Canada geese’ in trying to educate the public about Canada goose behaviour, and preventing any more geese being culled in Sandwell. As the most senior officer of the Council I implore you to do likewise.

I look forward to receipt of the information requested as soon as possible.

Yours sincerely,

Mrs (anonymised) BA, MA, CIPD, FinstLM

When first exposing the clandestine operation involving geese removal from Victoria park Tipton, we now know John Satchwell commented in his biased briefing to cabinet member Maria Crompton that ” members of the public may oppose the dispatching and culling, the potential for adverse publicity may arise from such measures.”

Should it come as a surprise then that the officer responsible for this entire operation would tell a few little “white lies” to those members of the public who opposed such measures? This is certainly what this member of the public got on Wednesday 10th July 2013 from the contractor of Sandwell council and John Satchwell himself. This year, he also repeated the lie about relocation right up to the point when SMBC appear to have suggested that they had done everything by the book and undertaken a cull following due procedure.

Notwithstanding the fact that the same contractor liars told other members of the public the same bullshit on the day last year, we have  Councillor Crompton appearing to have acknowledged that a lie was told… “I think that was ill conceived , whoever….. ” and she was going to say had told me this lie but was asked another question.

And then there is the matter of the email pictures of geese clearly being released at Forge Mill lake last year, sent to me by a senior officer within the council who claimed to have witnessed this release. I asked him to send me proof that they had been released, and he dually replied with the evidence.

Having asked about this release, Sandwell council in their official reply stated that the geese had been culled in 2013, that I had seen taken form Victoria park Tipton, and videod, and that this ranger had sent me later that day being released from his mobile phone. The email was sent from his own personal email address, presumably from his phone, to his Sandwell.gov email account, and then later obviously forwarded to me when back in the office to my email address. All of this I can prove, together with the times that the pictures were taken and the make and model of camera, and times the emails were sent. SO WERE THESE ALL SOME ELABORATE SCHEME, SET UP TO DECEIVE THIS MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC, OR WERE THESE GEESE ACTUALLY RELEASED LAST YEAR?

This provides SMBC with somewhat of a problem. In a Freedom of Information request that was submitted at the same time as the story broke, and which was posted on the main Sandwell council facebook page, Sandwell council appear to try to reinvent some history here with what appear to be a set of lies, as detailed above. The request has now disappeared from the facebook page, as the requester posted the initial FOI request questions asking them “why had they lied” about relocating the geese, having instead killed them all?”

August2014CanadaGeese1-683749012

In reply to this request which the council have now slipped onto their website hoping that it will not be seen (lol) , they state “NO LIES WERE TOLD-the geese were displaced to a suitable location to be culled.”

But wait a minute…. if they are claiming this, then they are indirectly calling myself a liar and that their contractors, John Satchwell and the ranger who sent me clear evidence of geese being released at Forge Mill lake last year did not claim that the birds were going to be released at Forge Mill lake. Just for the record, the semantics of the word “relocation” do not come into play here at all. I asked all involved in this if the birds had been or were going to be killed, to which they all replied in the negative.

Maria Crompton, putting on her questioning politicians voice on the radio, and claiming she knew nothing about the pictures sent to me by one of her officers, asked why if the video which I had taken last year had only just come to light this year, should perhaps consider the reaction that has taken place this year when discovering the truth about this lying deceitful rotten borough council. DOES SHE FOR ONE MINUTE THINK THAT IF ARMED WITH THE TRUTH ABOUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED, AND WHAT THEY NOW APPEAR TO ADMIT IN TRYING TO ESCAPE HAVING ADMITTING TO HAVE ILLEGALLY RELEASING A NON-NATIVE SPECIES WITHOUT CONSENT, THAT THIS WOULD NOT HAVE GONE PUBLIC IN THE WAY IT HAS THIS YEAR?

It now rests with those who were involved or roped into Satchwell’s original set of lies to admit the truth. WERE THESE GEESE RELEASED AT FORGE MILL LAKE LAST YEAR- AS STATED TO ME AND OTHERS, AND THAT THE PICTURES CLEARLY SHOW. YES OR NO? WE WILL NOT ALLOW THIS LYING ABYSMAL AUTHORITY THE OPPORTUNITY TO ESCAPE THIS QUESTION.

DOES THIS LOOK LIKE A LIE, OR IS IT THE TRUTH?

We submitted a second FOI request to Sandwell council, a follow up asking for clarification on various points within their response to the first FOI request.

We have obtained the so called “briefing report”, issued to Cabinet member, councillor Maria Crompton who gave verbal approval for the culls to take place. What we did not know previously, was which officer had issued this report. WE NOW KNOW THAT IT WAS JOHN SATCHWELL, SENIOR PARKS MANAGER WHO LIVES IN VICTORIA PARK TIPTON, AND SERIAL LIAR CONCERNING “RELOCATION” OF GEESE. This report just underlines the liars desire to influence personal interests using public money. It also contains no citations into how the evidence of claims against the geese has been compiled, and is little more than a hatchet scapegoating job against one species.

There is no indication as to whom had suggested this report’s efficacy in the first place, though we can probably guess. He quotes a figure of 700 geese being present in this April 2013 report, yet Cabinet member Maria Crompton’s statement to the media issued after the story of the cull had broken in late August 2014 states her quoted directly “With more than 1,000 geese grazing in our parks …..“. The discrepancy in numbers would suggest the invention of the figures, plucked out of thin air by a hot headed liar.

We would not dispute the opening paragraphs of Satchwell’s report, except the number of goose number figures, but these points build up to present a false picture. It is not the case that all geese breed, and that they remain on the site where they hatch, continuing to breed on that site like rabbits out of a hat. Evidence of individual birds would need to be presented to confirm this. What studies can be cited here?

We have rubbished the claims about public health and goose droppings, which reveal a phobia of both this species and excrement. It is interesting that former Senior Countryside Ranger , the non-native Roy Croucher, alleges a more productive rate of 1 every four minutes– he obviously has his stop watch set doing the four minute pile! Paths can be cleaned using road sweepers. They are not employed enough in the formal parks. Sick and excrement of many animals, including human is not uncommon. We have numerous alcoholic beverage containers left behind in the shelters at Victoria park and around the pools at Dartmouth park.

The claims of algal blooms are nonsense. No one in any scientific study can substantiate that goose droppings alone are responsible for causing algal blooms. This is the council that have suggested introducing “ornamental ducks” instead of Canada geese, so why is their shit less “toxic” than that of a gooses? The comment about fish stocks are laughable. Some local anglers claimed that they were not catching any fish in Victoria park Tipton, no doubt citing those mysterious Eastern Europeans were  taking them all. Following a netting operation by the environment agency, they found that the pool was actually overstocked- most likely as a result of illegal transfer of fish which is absolutely rife in the black country if not the entire UK, and has been by “the natives” for years.

Canada geese have many “natural” predators, as well as many unnatural ones such as powerlines, pollution and dogs.

• How is there a high reproduction rate when the council purport to have been using egg pricking measures over many years? We know that this has not been the case.
• He mentions suitable habitat- where is that exactly, when he identifies that they are herbivores  that eat organic matter but should not be allowed to graze on grass on sports pitches near to his house? There are no natural plants around Victoria park pool. They were not all eaten by the geese. In his time as Parks manager why has he not acted to rectify this? It just reveals the legacy of a piss poor parks manager when he can’t even fix issues of conservation 200 metres from his house. Not to mention the non- growth of vegetation on the islands nuked with pesticides. Who carried this out we wonder and for what purpose? Was it all about the geese back then too?
• The “damage” to parks and lakes is negligible. What damage are they talking about? How do they measure this, and what rectification measures do they have to put in place to repair this “damage” ? Footballers and those using “amenity” pitches across Sandwell cause major rubbish issues for the council to clear up. We know this goes on, we have spoken to council staff about their concerns, as well as leaving changing rooms/showers trashed and muddy. But the council will not pass comment because they want their money out of sport. The same is true of rubbish left behind by anglers at the waterside.

We also have “the trotters” who think that it is acceptable to race horses in little carts on some parks churning up the grass, as well as people taking chunks out of grass playing golf. In addition those who ride motorbikes across parks, as well a council workers themselves constantly re-cutting grass too often damages grassed areas.

Grass has been cut on some formal parks, such as Farley park and then left to be set on fire by vandals.

• What evidence can be presented that the geese have damaged other birds nests by trampling? If you get fools trespassing on the islands pricking goose eggs, then who is to say that they are not disturbing other nesting birds, which of course they would be.
• Fencing around “the duck pond” at Dartmouth park was put in after they had killed geese in 2013. This was supposedly offered at the time as restoring the park to “how it used to be”, no doubt to pacify the much deluded “Friends of Dartmouth park” (one woman as far as we can make out) vision of what a park should look like.

Fenced in- is this council out to make “a zoo” out of wildfowl?

During this year, the main pool at Dartmouth park was also deliberately drained supposedly to restore the bankside, but which had obviously been left to slip for many years. Caring Sandwell council decided to undertake the work in the middle of the nesting season, where we observed birds that had made nests on the water abandon them, because they were no longer in water.

A bone dry island

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• The “evidence” does not exist. It is merely a set of statements without any scrutiny, and is particularly non site specific.
• What percentage can be measured when their figures that they give for goose numbers are unknown, varying between 700 and 1000?

In the moult period, ( lasting between late July and early August), and given incorrectly by Satchwell here when they would still be hatching goslings, geese gather from a greater range of areas that would not be from just the local formal parks. This gathering is transient and lasts a matter of a few weeks. It is unfortunate that it occurs in the summer months when there are more people using the parks, who notice that there are “more geese”. The geese probably notice that there are more people too, but don’t propose a cull. Satchwell does not factor this into the equation, because he knows nothing about bird movements or goose behaviour.

• A year on year cull means that he has intention to destroy all the geese in Sandwell’s parks. We have no doubt that this is what this lying bully wants to do.
• There was nothing “professional” about the company that they employed, as demonstrated by our recorded footage. Asking members of the public to help them, spitting on the grass, telling multiple lies, “we don’t kill birds mate” etc, as well as then illegally releasing geese at an RSPB nature reserve to try to cover their tracks regarding members of the public who opposed their rounding up and transport of the geese, show they are an amateur sham.
•  “WE PILOT A PROJECT AND IDENTIFY 2 LOCATIONS WHERE THE PROBLEMS EXIST AND MEASURE THE OUTCOMES AND GAUGE PUBLIC REACTION.”

Here we have Satchwell not only presenting a pack of lies to the cabinet member  (his own personal opinions about Canada geese), but the nugget of his report’s purpose. He had obviously already identified that this could facilitate removal of geese from outside his house, and the fact that his namesake son, who no doubt only got the job in Dartmouth park because of who his father was, could be achieved using public money.

The outcome for Sandwell council from this selfish Satchwell action has been for him to bring it into disrepute, and for the council to be slated in the national press.

•  To remove habitat for geese to thrive, get rid of the sports pitches. It might give him more ample parking space for the multiple cars on his drive.
• Attempting to discourage the feeding of geese is nonsense, a smokescreen from the council’s decision to cull and illogical given that they would then feed more on the grass no doubt- which appears to be the focus point of his anti-wildfowl report.  To do this and to apply fairness, then stopping feeding of the fish in the park pools would also be necessary, i.e stop angling would have to be introduced in addition. Multiple foodstuffs are thrown into the water, both floating and sinking baits as well as meat in the form of ground bait and maggots. These types of material can be far more damaging than goose mess in stagnant pools leading to botulism.

The cost of the proposal shows just how little this council care about wildlife in its parks. How much would it cost to replace the killed birds with the “ornamental ducks”?

“MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY OPPOSE THE DISPATCHING AND CULLING, THE POTENTIAL FOR ADVERSE PUBLICITY  MAY ARISE FROM SUCH MEASURES”

LOL, Oh you bet!

An announcement made in today’s online Express and Star, may well be seen as a positive step in our campaign to try to persuade them to never carry out any further culls of Canada geese within the borough. However, there are more sinister aspects of releasing such statements into the media, without consulting those who are spearheading the campaign.

The council will no doubt be aware that the decision to kill the geese in the manner in which they did it was not only likely to cause controversy, but provide them with considerable bad publicity. This has been entirely of their own making. To go on live radio without being able to answer fundamental questions is also a sign that the councillor dropped in the mess of trying to explain why they took the decision was not entirely clear on what had really happened, nor if the geese had been “humanely killed”- whatever that means.

Councillor Maria Crompton is quoted;

“We are presently gauging public reaction and we will review our approach to the management of geese numbers during the coming months.”

It is important to explore how this story, or update on a story came about, as it is unlikely that the council themselves put out a press release without being asked to make a comment by the newspaper, who had taken note that over 2,000 people have now signed the online petition against any further culls.

To “review” something does not mean changing their mind, it could imply carrying out further culls.

We would also like to add that the petition will not be handed in when it reaches 3000 signatures, but will be left to continue gathering signatures. The paper petition has a target of 1500 signatures, in line with Sandwell Council’s 2014-15 petition scheme, whereby this total,( so long as 10 people live, study or work within the borough that appear on it ), will be considered at a scrutiny meeting. Our petition calls on a senior officer to give evidence at a scrutiny meeting for justification into the decision that has already taken place.

Making a statement such as the council have, and in this medium, could be designed to put people off making any further representations or signing our petition against them. It is easy to read this story as – “oh job well done, now let’s worry about something else.” The council will be relying on kicking the issue into the long grass to hope it goes away- hence the reference to not doing any more culls until the moult period next year. This is another tactic to try to deflect criticism from their past action, without raking over the embers of what led them to the decision, or how it was carried out. We have yet to learn about how the geese were actually killed.

It may well be the case that there has been disquiet expressed privately by Labour members within Sandwell council as to not supporting the action, nor being consulted on it before the action took place. It is therefore imperative that the issue is not kicked into the long grass, that it is not seen to go away, and that people’s voices are honked loud and clear to the council that they do not support any further culls of geese in Sandwell.