CAMPAIGNERS are stepping-up pressure on Yorkshire Water to stop leasing moorland for grouse shooting.

Over 400 people signing petition postcards to the utility company on over the Bank Holiday in Whitby on Saturday.

It forms part of a joint-campaign by Ban Bloodsports on Yorkshire’s Moors (BBYM) and the League Against Cruel Sports, whose supporters are calling on Yorkshire Water chief executive Richard Flint to pull grouse shooting from the company’s land.

Luke Steele, spokesperson for BBYM, said: “We thank the people of Whitby for their support in urging Yorkshire Water to stop leasing moorland for grouse shooting.

“Huge sections of uplands owned by the company across the region are being purged of native wildlife and having peatland habitat degraded to increase game bird numbers for shooting.

“If Yorkshire Water wants to be recognised as taking its environmental responsibilities seriously, then ending its grouse shooting leases is the only course of action which will suffice. “

Paul Carter, political engagement manager at Yorkshire Water, said the firm took its environmental responsibilities very seriously adding it was a “complex issue”.

He said: “In recent years we have been working with a wide range of stakeholders to tackle a range of water quality and environmental issues. Our partners in delivering this work include the owners and tenants of shooting rights, both on our land and on land owned by others. This collaborative approach has made great progress and has enabled us to jointly deliver innovative projects which deliver for everyone with an interest in land management.Our view is that taking a confrontational approach by banning shooting in the areas where we control the shooting rights would have less benefit than working together.

“There are also significant areas of our land where we don’t control the shooting rights and therefore where we have no control over shooting activities. Working in partnership means we have been able to make meaningful improvements to water quality and the environment in these areas.

“Our ultimate aim is to ensure that we deliver the best possible environmental outcomes on our land. At the current time we believe this aim is best served by working together with all stakeholders in partnership”