FOX hunting leaders in Cheshire are meeting this week to decide how to combat the Government's decision to ban the sport. The Parliament Act was used to push through the hunting ban on Thursday. But the belief among hunt supporter in Nantwich is that it will be unworkable. Robert Walker, one of four joint master of the Cheshire Hunt, said: `The Countryside Alliance lawyers are studying the ins and outs of the Bill, and we believe there will be enough loopholes to make it unworkable.' Mr Walker said the Cheshire Hunt masters would be meeting this week to discuss the ban and he warned: `If necessary we will take the matter to the European Court of Human Rights. `No matter how long it takes we believe the ban will be overturned, and in the meantime we will carry on as normal.' Pro-hunt supporters say at least half a million people are involved in the country's 350 hunts. If the ban goes ahead they say around 25,000 dogs will have to be destroyed, and a £14million rural industry will be wiped out. Asked if the Cheshire Hunt, which has 70 dogs, would consider defying the ban by going outside, Mr Walker stressed: `There will be no need. I am convinced the ban will never work.' Hunt supporter Nigel Burrows, of Faddiley, said: `How a Government which apparently has no qualms about young soldiers losing their lives in a war which should never have happened, can talk up the cruelty to foxes is beyond me.' The ban on hunting, which also includes hare coursing, has angered Nantwich landlady Jill Llewellin, who runs the Black Lion in Welsh Row with her partner Mike Thomas. She said: `There is a total misconception about hare coursing by people who know nothing about it. The whole idea is to get the dog to the hare in the quickest possible time, not to kill it. `The hare coursing fraternity has done more good work for the conservation of the countryside than practically any other body.' Mr Thomas said: `My greyhound Trigger has never killed a hare, yet he is a champion. `Unfortunately, for us the ban could be easier to impose . We are just hoping that the fox hunting people will overturn the bill and our sport will be reprieved.' | 
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