I wish to agree wholeheartedly with those people who have written about their shock and dismay at the issuing of a licence to kill off a whole badger sett.

I am equally shocked at the fact there are people who wish to carry out such an action.

Unless we learn to live with the creatures with which we share this Earth, I fear there is little hope for humanity. I cannot believe a better solution could not have been found.

We are very fortunate to live so near the open downland and many of us are working hard to retain that.

But countryside means other creatures. I still hope there is some way we can protect the badgers and I am urging the council to see what it can do.

This is a very sad reflection on human inability to give just a little space to our fellow creatures.

-Joyce Edmond Smith, convenor, Sustainability Commission