To Ian Liddell Grainger MP

I was surprised to hear how deeply concerned you were about livestock attacks by dogs in our farming community. I have attempted to contact you repeatedly on this issue having sent eight emails with only an automated response and numerous phone calls when I was unable to leave messages. Your office also failed to respond.

I farmed locally for 35 years as well as training collies to work sheep. I suffered a number of losses due to irresponsible dog owners, the worst resulting in the death of 15 ewes and lambs in one night. Two of the dogs were shot by a neighbour the next morning when they mauled some of his sheep. The police were unable to secure a prosecution as we had not witnessed the attack although the owner admitted the offence. 

I currently own a German Shepherd with an extreme prey drive. Despite my experience in dog training I was unable to deter her with force free methods. On several occasions she wrenched the lead from my hand to chase deer and would chase my own sheep if not leashed. As a last resort I investigated using an electronic training collar. I bought a high quality collar, researched training methods and took advice from professionals. Initial training is done over several weeks using very low level stimulation before exposing the dog to livestock on a long line. If the dog attempts to chase a higher stimulation is used to break the focus. The sensation used at the highest level is a tenth of the 'shock' from an electric fence used to contain horses and cattle. After a very short time my dog learnt to ignore sheep and deer and I am able to walk her off leash in woods and fields of sheep. She is now living her best life and no longer presents a danger to other animals.

So my question is, as I have sent you a great deal of evidence that responsible dog owners who have high prey drive dogs can resolve the problem with such training, why do you ignore the facts? I'm afraid your words ring hollow to me. 

I wish to remain anonymous as there is a good deal of ignorance amongst the public about 'shock' collars and I would anticipate a great deal of abuse for having used such 'cruel' methods rather than simply euthanising my dog to prevent her causing harm.

Name supplied,

Dear Editor

May I politely point out to Alan Bond that he is mistaken in attributing a quotation about failures travelling on buses to Mrs Thatcher. (Postbag, 5 April).  It was no surprise to learn that Jeremy Corbyn - once supported by Sir Keir Starmer - put this about.  The phrase was coined by Brian Howard, a poet, and repeated by Loelia, Duchess of Westminster according to her obituary.  There is no verified record of Mrs Thatcher making the comment.  If Mr Bond ever moves to Scotland he may want to adjust his vocabulary after reference to their new Hate Speech laws.

Mr Bond seems shaken and stirred by anyone to the right of “Tories are scum” Angela Rayner, our Deputy PM in waiting.  If people want to see how Labour performs in office they need only look to Wales where they have been a total disaster, underperforming the UK government in almost every area of activity and now wrecking small businesses in the hospitality sector with their latest plans.  Pubs are closing there at double the rate for England and on 1 April the Business Rates Support was slashed from 75 % to 40%. There may be nowhere left to celebrate a general election victory!

Sandra Jones

Old Cleeve

Dear Free Press

There has been great interest in the prospect of a ferry service linking Minehead/West Somerset to Barry, Wales. We came close at the turn of the century but sadly the Lottery Funding went to the Eden Project rather than the proposed Minehead Pier and ferry dock. I would be interested to learn what the current public opinion is today and whether it would be worth starting a new campaign. 

There are still plans for a company to build a tidal lagoon in West Somerset to produce clean energy, something that, to me, would be far more durable than a nuclear power plant. Assuming it was given the go ahead, at least fifteen years will have passed by the time the lagoon could be in operation. However we could build a temporary floating ferry dock in a relatively short period of time that could be dismantled and reused elsewhere.

The A39 is unlikely to be enlarged to accommodate the ever increasing traffic flow, despite the thousands of additional houses springing up in either direction. Wouldn’t it make sense to relieve some of that?

John Clyde-Smith