Unconfirmed Roe Deer Deaths
Mar 27th, 2009 by philjay
We are led to believe through unconfirmed sources that three Roe Deer have been shot in the vicinity of the treatment works, by, or under the instruction of United Utilities. We also believe that the reason given, was the apparent danger of pollution to already treated water within that immediate area. Again we must emphasise that as of this time, this is unconfirmed, however, if true, the implications are surely of grave concern. As Friends Of Lever Park we are concerned with the welfare of both flora and fauna, we have recently observed UU indirectly decimate 3.2 hectares of Lever Park and now it would seem that it is open season on its’ defenceless wild animals. we await an explanation from UU as to what is going on, and will update as soon as an answer is forthcoming.
If is true about the deer it is an absolute and utter scandal .It shows what U.U. are really about and it certainly is not conservation.Not content with destroying ancient woodland,now they are killing the wildlife.All they are interested in is making money and they don`t care how they do it.They should be kicked out of Rivington along with the other fiasco which masqurades as entertainment, and which they invited into Rivington without the knowledge of the people who appreciate wildlife.U.U.are lowlife as far as i am concerned,for what they are doing to Rivington.
I have to-night emailed Neville Kidd (catchment manager) for UU to ask for a comment on these rumours, and requested that he reply.
If there is any truth in what what is being said, this will open a new can of worms.
When he reply’s to my request on behalf of “Friends of Lever Park” I will publise it on the site.
I have just heard the news about the deer and I agree with Eileen, that if it is true, it is a scandal that United Utilities have slaughtered these magnificant animals. That on top of the destruction of the woodland that Go-Ape have played a major part in, with the blessing of Chorley Council and United Utilities, is too much to bear.
Lord Lever as we know, bequeathed Lever Park to the people for them to enjoy the unspoilt beauty of the area and for the wildlife to live in peace. Go-Ape are well aware that the planning permission they received, was given without proper consultation of the residents of the area and the activity should be closed down.
Chorley Council and United Utilities have treated Lord Lever’s wishes with contempt. They have broken the law and they should be made accountable for their actions.
There is an article in the Bolton News confirming this autrocity, http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/search/4249473.Water_company_culls_deer_after_safety_alert/
I think it is about time that the whole of Rivington is given National Park status to protect it from United Utilities, Go ape and Chorley council who do not act in the best interests of the area, nature and wildlife of the area.
To protect this beautiful area maybe the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) could help with the fight.
Dear Paul
Thank you very much for the information you have provided which includes CPRE. I have just emailed them and explained the current situation. I have also given them the Friends of Lever Park website, to look at.
If they are unable to intervene, I have asked them to explain why and I told them who I had contacted with very little success. People such as Lindsay Hoyle, who despite my 2 emails to him, never bothered to reply.
I emailed Lancaster Council and explained the situation, despite a courtesy email which said they would pass the email to the correct department, I heard nothing. I emailed them again and got the same courtesy email, but since then I have heard nothing.
After studying DEFRA’s website, I emailed them. I received a courtesy email from DEFRA and they promised to get back to me within 15 days. They didn’t get back to me, so I emailed my MP Andrew Gwynne. He replied and said he had offered Lindsay Hoyle his help and he said he was contacting DEFRA on my behalf to ask why they never got back to me.
I haven’t heard anything more from Andrew Gwynne, but I haven’t given up on him, because he has helped me on other issues, in his constituency and in other constituencies.
I am keeping my fingers crossed that CPRE will get involved.
Well done Kathleen and Paul and just to let you know I issued a written comment to BEN regarding the deer atrocity, which should be printed either today or tomorrow. Don’t know whether it’s of any value but the esteemed author Bill Bryson (who just happens to be American) is high up on the board at CPRE and fights with passion for the protection of all rural areas under threat. Maybe we try to get him involved.
Thanks Phil, I was so desperate that I even looked on the net to see if “Swampy” (do you remember Swampy, who lived in the trees?) had a website. I couldn’t find any information about him.
I think it is a good idea to try to get Bill Bryson involved with the Lever Park issue. Lever Park has already been vandalised with Chorley Council and United Utilities blessing, which part of Rural England will be the next to be vandalised with the blessing of their borough councils.
I have received a reply from Mr Neville Kidd (catchment manager) regarding the Roe deer deaths.
His reply refered me to the Bolton News Website, and that was it.
It does appear by this reply , that UU are treating us with contempt.
I have just found out from my sister who asked at a wildlife park if it is true that deer contaminate water.They said its not true,they will have culled them because they deem them to be a nuisance.
Deer and water supplies don’t mix. Cryptosporidium is present in deer droppings (as it will be in most animal droppings). The World Health Organisation has produced some scientific research (see links at the bottom of this comment).
However…
Cryptosporidium will only be an issue if the deer had direct access to the water treatment works. United Utilties need to get their house in order. The best way to stop deer posing any threat to the water supply is by using an effective fence. Nothing high tech or complicated, just a simple FENCE, using materials you could get from B&Q.
United Utilities really aren’t doing their job. Protecting the watersheds is a primary duty. Deer droppings in the water supply is a major health and safety issue to humans. Cryptosporidium kills people. Let’s hope no Cryptosporidium got into the water supply this time. If it does, we might live to regret it!
DEFRA might well be interested in this case, if not because of the deer cull, then from the public health implications.
The WHO study is here:
http://www.iwaponline.com/wst/05801/0127/058010127.pdf
More research here:
http://www.maf.govt.nz/mafnet/rural-nz/sustainable-resource-use/water-efficiency/gains-from-improved-drinking-water/improved-drinking-water-04.htm
…and here:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18653946
I spoke to a National Trust person today at Lyme Park. They have a herd of red and fallow deer. I knew they had a water treatment plant in Lyme Park so I asked if the deer ever strayed into the plant and if they did did they contaminate the water.
I was told that although the treatment plant is contained and away from the deer sanctuary, deer do occasionally stray into the plant and if they do they are just herded out. I explained the situation with the roe deer in Lever Park and how 3 had been shot, because United Utilities said they could cause contamination in the water.
I was told that deer do not contaminate the water and the reason the roe deer would have been shot, was because United Utilities deem them to be a problem in Lever Park, because they damage trees and other vegetation.
If UU are stuck for fencing, maybe they could use the unclimable metal fence that they removed from Lever Park.
Or is FENCING, TREES and DEER treated the same ?
They only know how to bring them DOWN !
Its to much like hard work for them to put a fence up to keep the deer out.Anyway its more fun using the deer for target practice.
Has anyone been on the United Utilities website and read their “commitment to environment, habitat and wildlife”. There’s a lovely photograph of three Roe deer with the caption
“Roe Deer grazing, a common sight on United Utilities land around Rivington and Macclesfield”. It’s hypocritical to say the least in view of their recent slaughter of these magnificent animals. Any suggestions as to how we can show the general public the true colours of United Utilities? Guardians of the environment they are not, at least not at Rivington.
Not sure Ann, I sent a letter via email to Bolton News last wednesday rebuking UU most strongly, however it hasn’t appeared yet. Maybe not a big enough story to warrant printing. Perhaps if others care to write to BEN we may stir a bit of interest.