Battling the poison weed (From Gazette & Herald)

Battling the poison weed

RYEDALE MP John Greenway's private member's bill, initiated by the British Horse Society (BHS), which aims to reduce equine fatalities due to ragwort poisoning has now been published.

It is to get its second reading on March 21.

The bill is supported by the British Horseracing Board, the National Farmers' Union, equine welfare organisations and a large number of cross-party MPs. It would place a duty of responsibility on public authorities such as highways authorities and statutory undertakers to "take all reasonable steps to remove ragwort from relevant land occupied by him and to prevent the growth or regrowth of ragwort on such land".

"I am pleased to be promoting this bill drafted by the BHS. My office has received considerable support from equestrian organisations and horse owners and I look forward to presenting it to the Commons on March 21.

"With a conservative figure of 500 equines dying in 2001 from the effects of ragwort poisoning, I hope this bill will go a long way to alleviate the suffering caused by this insidious weed."

BHS chief executive Kay Driver said: "We are now building on the success of the society's 'Root out Ragwort' campaign and the response that Mr Greenway has received to this bill shows how much awareness has been created as to the dangers of ragwort. We hope that the bill is successful and can go forward unopposed."

Updated: 09:52 Wednesday, March 12, 2003