AMOST every week we read about the depredations of the wild boar – this week it is the turn of Yorkley Football Club whose ground is unusable.

I was recently given a copy of the Dangerous Wild Animals Act of 1976 and understand that a few months ago it was the subject of representations to the Forest of Dean District Council.

This Act is very interesting and lengthy but a number of points took my attention.

•The boar (which are included in the list attached to the Act) can only be kept under licence issued by the local authority. 

Such a licence  must not be issued if it results in a situation which causes nuisance or compromises safety.

•The animals must be kept in secure accommodation.

•A licence can only be granted to the owner of the animals. No licence has been granted. There is no known owner so the liability passes to the Forestry Commission on whose land they live.

It seems to me that the Commission must either fence these animals in secure accommodation or cull the whole lot otherwise they are breaking the law.

– B C Baker, Lydney.