A MOTION to kill badgers in a bid to rid the county of “the serious problem” of bovine TB has been backed by Ceredigion councillors.

Controversial plans for a badger cull in 2011 sparked protests and a legal challenge led to the Welsh Government agreeing a five-year vaccination plan in 2012, but councillors insist the “non-scientific” vaccination programme has failed.

Cllr Gareth Lloyd proposed a motion that was agreed by council last Thursday that said pressure should be put on the Welsh Government to abandon the vaccination programme and agree to a cull.

Cllr Lloyd, who is also a farmer, told members: “I don’t want to cull any animals, but the fact is that cattle are dying as a result of this. It’s a dreadful situation.

“The Welsh Government is failing to deliver its vaccination programme.

“Badgers are a strong factor in how cattle contract TB. We can carry on culling cattle in their thousands every year or we can do something about the root cause.

“For farmers and communities in Cer­edigion we need to press ahead with a scheme [to cull badgers].”

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