Growing number of foxes in HF

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Clem Attlee Estate residents even complained of pets been killed

Over the past few years, MP Greg Hands and other Councillors have received an increasing number of complaints from local residents about urban foxes - not just on streets, but also on estates such as the Clem Attlee Estate in Fulham. Among the complaints received by Greg are hundreds of complaints of torn refuse sacks, upturned bins and even incidents of children's pet rabbits having been killed.

Greg has raised the issue with the Council. In a letter from the Council, they say: "some residents undoubtedly view foxes as a pest whilst other people view them as welcome visitors".

“It is conceded that foxes may kill small domestic pets such as rabbits. However foxes are themselves relatively small mammals and pose little threat to cats and dogs. There are very few recorded incidents of foxes biting humans.”

Finally, the Council do make some suggestions for residents, saying: "The advice we offer to concerned residents involves fencing their own gardens to a standard that physically excludes foxes.” Nevertheless, even they concede on this point: “this is difficult to achieve in practice.”

Greg has branded Hammersmith & Fulham Council as “clueless” on the growing problem of urban foxes in the area.

 

Commenting, Greg said: “The Council are clearly clueless on this issue. They fail to acknowledge the extent to which urban foxes are a problem to local residents, then effectively tell people to have cats and dogs as pets instead of smaller creatures, and finally give a solution that they themselves accept is very difficult to achieve!

“Hammersmith & Fulham residents deserve a Council that isn’t frightened to take on problems facing the borough – and take the necessary action!”

 

July 3, 2005