South Lakes Safari Zoo to close :(

[~Divine~Wind~]

http://www.itv.com/news/border/2015-12-18/popular-cumbrian-zoo-to-close-after-shock-announcement/

What?

We were there not too long ago and the place was fantastic, we all had a great day and the ticket prices were more than fair.

The animals seemed well looked after and in the open enclosure all the animals were friendly and active.

Was plannign on going again, such a shame

 

[robfosters]

Thats sad.

I dont quite follow though. Why can't the council just give them their requirements, they get it done to the councils satisfaction and that's that.

Why would the council be harassing them? I would imagine such a place is beneficial to the area.

 

[monkeypants]

This is terrible news, it's a great place. Yes the walkways can be slippery but that can happen anywhere.

I will make effort to go before it closes.

 

[Tom0]

In my experience in my area, councils usually do things like this because small but popular attractions take business from their own (usually) crap ones.

Sly.

 

[Monkeh]

Was looking forward to taking the kids and wife there next summer, gutted now .

 

[Karateyid]

fantastic place.. More health and safety nonsense by the sounds of it... its not as if the council would be the ones to get sued over a slip/fall either

 

[Monkeh]

There's a petition up at change.org and the general gist from the latest update is the license was refused on safety concerns raised over the walkways but the council took the opinion of the vet doing the animal inspection in regards to said walkways over waiting for a properly commissioned structural engineers report - even going as far as to interfere with the engineer's work by withholding the local reg's on the subject.

Lets guess, having a wild life park with dangerous animals means they have to have a certain level of armed response units available or some other emergency services available in case of a problem with the inmates that the council wants to cut back on to save funding so they're putting the place out of business to save themselves a few quid...

 

[FISHGUTS]

He's always in a constant war as he keeps doing things without planning permission, which has annoyed the Council.
Then he stood as Conservative Councillor in a total Labour area.
Barrow Borough Council are loons though.

This is just media posturing. He'll be open again once the season starts. Cash cow for his Wyoming ranch.

 

[Rroff]

Is that the one where the owner had a routine with one of the Tigers? went there years back and he got a bit funny with my dad who made a light hearted commented about it being staged.

EDIT: Yeah David Gill - same place.

 

[~Divine~Wind~]

You’re one of 9,653 people to sign this petition. Now help find 347 more people to reach the goal.

 

[monkeypants]

Just found out there's more to this than stated in the articles. The owner sounds awful and doesn't seem to care about the animals as much as one would hope.

 

[TheVoice]

Lets guess, having a wild life park with dangerous animals means they have to have a certain level of armed response units available or some other emergency services available in case of a problem with the inmates that the council wants to cut back on to save funding so they're putting the place out of business to save themselves a few quid...

That's quite a stretch really. The police aren't going to keep an ARV nearby on the unlikely off-chance a lion escapes its enclosure.

 

[masterk]

That's quite a stretch really. The police aren't going to keep an ARV nearby on the unlikely off-chance a lion escapes its enclosure.

Emergency rib-eye steaks behind glass are much more economical.

 

[JBuk]

Emergency rib-eye steaks behind glass are much more economical.

Theres plenty of fresh ribeyes walking around the park

 

[Deleted member 66701]

having a wild life park with dangerous animals means they have to have a certain level of armed response units available or some other emergency services available

Nope.

 

[Rroff]

Just found out there's more to this than stated in the articles. The owner sounds awful and doesn't seem to care about the animals as much as one would hope.

There are quite a few campaigns against him and stuff :S I wonder how much is deserved and how much is people being incredibly vindictive and awkward due to the whole "no smoke without fire" thing over some of the problems and turning it into a problem that goes round and round.

 

[rickjames]