United Utilities – falling short for shooting
- Duncan Thomas
- July 25, 2023
- 2:31 pm
Shock, anger and utter frustration; the overriding emotions coming from gamekeepers and shoot managers who were last week informed that their shooting leases with United Utilities will not be renewed, says Duncan Thomas, BASC’s regional director for the North of England.
Shoots that had been running for decades, even longer than United Utilities have owned the land, who are integrated within the fabric of the countryside dismissed with a short phone call. Such was the drastic turn of events when United Utilities announced that it would cease shooting on its land.
Some who were informed weren’t even given the time to communicate with their wider syndicate before the news was publicised.
And let’s be clear, despite the narrative that this is about closing down ‘big, posh, entitled grouse shoots’, nothing could be further from the truth. Many of the affected shoots were set up decades ago as part of a much-praised wider scheme to give ordinary local people access to affordable shooting on local land.
This should not be portrayed as United Utilities striking a blow against the privileged few. It is an assault on the common man and rural communities. It strikes at the very heart of community.
In most instances, these shoots located in the Forest of Bowland, across Lancashire and the Northwest of England, are ingrained within the local community.
For those involved, the shoot is an opportunity to get together, to muck in and help out. A social and physical activity for the winter months, a reason to get outside and enjoy yourself. This is an unnecessary disaster for the local community, businesses and cohesion of these rural areas.
United Utilities has gone further than any before, twisted by the misinformation of the animal rights agenda, they have ceased both upland and lowland shoots. Short-term publicity gain with the vocal minority, will roll out to long term devastation for the rural landscape.
A shoot is not a stand-alone entity
A shoot is not a stand-alone entity, but a land use integrated into many others. From predator control undertaken for the benefit of conservation and farming, to crop protection and deer management.
The gamekeeper is the eyes and ears on the ground, keeping a look out for illegal activity, first on the scene for accidents and with unparalleled local knowledge. So who will now challenge the off-road bikers churning up the peat and damaging tracks, the poachers, and those starting fires? The loss of this understated profession will be nothing short of tragic for United Utilities and it’s stakeholders.
The shoots in the Forest of Bowland area, alongside United Utilities and other stakeholders, have worked to ensure the survival of breeding waders. Hen harriers too are well established in the AONB, thanks to the work of gamekeepers. Indeed, vermin control provided to control foxes, mustelids and crows have benefitted the full range of wildlife.
With the incentive gone, United Utilities will now need to provide significant investment into the land or else wave goodbye to the species that call these areas home. For decades it’s been a team effort and those on the ground, including gamekeepers and farmers, are flabbergasted.
A failure to communicate, consult and explain by United Utilities makes it feel like there is an overriding sense of embarrassment from those within. Pushed into a direction which many internally disagree with.
There is already significant local discontent with the water company and this decision cements local opinion that United Utilities just don’t care what the locals think.
Reputational damage
The reputational damage the organisation now faces is significant. The answers for how this decision was allowed to come to light and the evidence to back it up is paramount to remedying this unnecessary crisis. They ignored BASC’s appeal to be part of the process, we were ready to provide all the socio-economic benefits and they chose to exclude us.
This cannot be allowed to stand; for the local communities, the conservation and management of our landscape, and the enjoyment of our countryside, United Utilities must correct this decision.
Are you a United Utilities customer?
“Did we fall short?” That’s the question that United Utilities asks repeatedly across the customer service and complaints section of its website.
If you are a customer of United Utilities – and there are millions of you – we are asking you lodge a complaint about its decision not to renew shoot tenancies and submit your own answer to the question of “Did we fall short?” for conservation, for shoots, for gamekeepers and their families, for farmers, land managers, beaters, pickers-up and for rural businesses.
Send an email of complaint to the chief executive of United Utilities, Louise Beardmore, directly using this email address: Louise.Beardmore@uuplc.co.uk. Together, we can push back against this decision.
Real people, real lives
United Utilities cessation of shooting affects real working people, their lives, and livelihoods.
Read the reaction below from some of those directly impacted by the actions of United Utilities.
“United Utilities does nothing about illegal camping, people boating and swimming in restricted reservoirs, mountain bikers cutting up protected peat moorlands and will do nothing about poachers with running dogs killing everything in sight and just leaving the carcasses. Yet they seem happy to target shooting, because they think it’s an easy win that scores points with the vocal minority who shout loudly about such things.
“The reality is that this decision is a disaster for the community. It will cost jobs and destroy years of incredible conservation work. United Utilities has given in to a minority who know nothing about how to live in and manage our countryside.”
– United Utilities tenant farmer
“Let’s be clear, this is disastrous. It’s about people’s lives – our gamekeeper will lose his house, his kids will have to leave the local school. We have forty part-time workers with no way of keeping them on, that’s not to mention the social value for people.
“The farmer who grazes the land like us thinks it’s a ridiculous decision and the local hotel which relies on the income from shoot visitors and will probably be £5,000 a year down.”
“After 23 years at Whitendale, it’s a great disappointment that United Utilities have decided not to continue their association with the shooting community.
Around the year 2000, the hen harrier situation was dire, just small numbers attempting to breed. The stakeholders (United Utilities, RSPB, raptor group, plus Whitendale, Hareden and Abbeystead shoots ) got together to put in place a protocol as a way to move forward. This type of collaboration was ahead of its time. After years of work, today the breeding hen harrier population is extremely healthy. This is something that United Utilities should be putting out there, it’s a success story. They should not instead be using the shooting community as an easy target to balance public unease with water supply and pollution issues.
“Regarding my shoot at Whitendale, we employ some 15 beaters, six pickers-up and several kitchen staff on every shoot day. The guns nine-times out of ten are always ready to retire to The Inn at Whitewell at the end of each day, bringing vital income to a local business.
“Some guns come a great distance to shoot with us. They are always taken with the countryside here in the Trough and I know of several who have come back with their families to stay in the area, which again boosts the local economy.”
– Alan Peet, United Utilities shoot tenant
“Over the last 10 years, I have regularly worked my team of gundogs beating and picking-up on three shoots which are on United Utilities land in the Forest of Bowland. On one of these I’m a syndicate member; it is a working person’s shoot and we take it in turns to shoot or work our dogs.
“I live in Slaidburn area and as a retiree the importance of getting outside is immense. Being involved in field sports keeps me and my dogs fit takes and takes me out into the countryside four or sometimes five days a week, in all weathers, between August and February. It’s so important for maintaining good mental health and social contact during what can be the bleakest and most depressing months of the year.
“The local shoots also provide a seasonal income which is again injected back into the local community via the village shop and public house.”
– Dave Anderton, beater and picker-up
“The shocking news that United Utilities have withdrawn shooting leases from all their holdings comes as another body-blow, especially for rural pubs like The Inn at Whitewell.
“We have weathered the pandemic, keeping all our staff, with the hope we could return to some sort of normality. The high-handed action by United Utilities shows no regard for rural communities and a complete disregard for the social and economic impact that action will have. This is an ill-considered and destructive action that will threaten rural jobs, businesses and community life.
“It is astounding and incomprehensible.”
– Charles Bowman, The Inn at Whitewell
