Cheshire East Council has banned badger culling on land directly controlled by the council, despite government plans to roll out the practice in Cheshire.
A government-backed badger vaccination scheme has been relaunched to help stop the spread of bovine TB (bTB) in England.
New measures outlined include eleven additional licences for badger control covering parts of Devon, Wiltshire, Somerset, Dorset and Cheshire.
But Cheshire East Council has rejected the plans. It will prevent culling taking place on land it rents to tenants, including farmers.
However, the council refused to condemn the cull.
A council spokesperson said: "The council is aware of the significant problem that bovine TB has caused for farmers in Cheshire, for the rural economy and for the area's wildlife."
There have been vaccinations undertaken in Cheshire, including on Cheshire East Council land. The local authority has also sought to manage land under its direct control with a high level of bio-security.
The Government's Chief Vet Nigel Gibbens said: "Taking action to prevent bovine TB infection of cattle from the reservoir of disease in local badger populations is an essential part of the government’s 25-year strategy to eradicate the disease in England.
"Proactive badger control is currently the best available option and the licensing of further areas is necessary to realise disease control benefits across the High Risk Area of England, rather than at local levels."
