SHOOTING CULLED?: Ben Bradshaw's unusual but welcome u-turn on Open General Licences for shooting pigeons and crows obscures a more worrying approach by this Government towards shooting. The draft Animal Welfare Bill contains a number of unnecessary measures which would impact heavily on the rearing of game. The Home Office Firearms Review hints at restrictions on the age young people can use weapons and the number of guns an individual can own. The Hunting Act contains restrictions in the way a gamekeeper can use a dog to control pests. The Government said it would allow hunting to continue under licence but could not control its own party, the result being a ban of sorts. As we approach the election we will no doubt witness countless Government and Party expressions of love for shooting and fishing. The question is whether we should be seduced by them?

Peter Setterfield Countryside Alliance Regional Director

ENFORCE THE LAW: Scrapping the permit scheme for Lewisham High Street because it's difficult to enforce is nuts. Laws which aren't enforced make honest people sceptical of the law. Another example of this is the police's failure to deal with people driving while using mobiles.

D Lawrenson Email address supplied