THE District Council says it will not fund TB vaccinations for badgers.

A motion to pledge £5k towards vaccinations on local farms was defeated by 20-18 this week.

Coun Marion Winship (Ind, Alvington, Aylburton & West Lydney) said: "Members were anxious to know how effective vaccination would be. We were informed that it would have to be repeated annually over a period of five years. It was impossible to be certain that infected animals would not be included in the vaccination.

"Defra agrees there is some benefit to vaccinating badgers and is encouraging a vaccination scheme to be run in those areas that are on the edge of the worst TB infected parts of the country. Unfortunately, TB is endemic in Gloucestershire and so a vaccination programme here would not be eligible for funding from Defra."

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