Three Owls Bird Sanctuary has been forced to close. According to their website they received a letter from Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council telling them they had to obtain a zoo licence in order to continue to operate, despite the fact that the sanctuary and hospital are not a zoo!
The Rochdale Observer recently reported that the 'complaint' made about 3 Owls as an unlicenced zoo was made by (believe it or not) the Born Free Foundation. This information came from a council spokesperson. However, Littleborough (near Rochdale) resident Peter Reed contacted Born Free, whose legal department 'strongly refute any intention to close this or any other sanctuary or animal hospital.' The charity did make enquiries about the licencing of 3 Owls and similar institutions but insist they did not complain about any of them.
Mr Reed's letter can be found in this morning's edition of the Rochdale Observer (Saturday edition), as well as others about the matter.
So it's the end of an era and we're not even sure exactly why! Whatever the truth, the closure of the sanctuary and hospital is causing unnecessary upheavel for all concerned: the birds are having to settle into new homes and the paid staff are now jobless. According to the website two are now even homeless!
A petition has been started with the intention of changing legislation so that other sanctuaries do not have to go through this situation. It can be found here:
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/birdsanctuary/
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2 comments:
What a spinless and cowardly trick. If the Born Free Foundation did what it was supposed to it would be closing down horrific places like Georgetown Zoo not bullying people who are trying to help wildlife.
And as for Rochdale council, they have shown themselves up in the true light of polliticians, slime who care about nothing except themselves.
If this had been some half arsed modr art project or drop in centre for desabled vegan lesbians then stacks of cash would have been thrown at it. But because it is trying to help animals then its stamped on. A few skulls want smashing if you ask me.
Rochdale Council have their priorities totally backsides roads on! A few years ago they turned the old Packer's Spout fountain back on, which shoots up gallons of water much higher than is probably correct, and costs taxpayers a lot of money but wildlife projects and things that can be educational for children are neglected. The council-run Chamber House farm, once a magnet for children, is another example of an attraction gone to waste. It now stands derelict, up for sale for an inflated price no one in their right mind would pay. Local government, particularly mine, have a lot to answer for.
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