Closure order throws zoo future into doubt

The Dalton attraction, which has become the centre of the country’s media attention after a harrowing list of nearly 500 animal deaths was released, has been issued with a closure order which means it must shut its doors to the public in less than a month.

The order, which can be appealed, was made by Barrow Borough Council’s (BBC) licensing committee this week after it refused to grant a new zoo licence to its founder David Gill.

SLSZ was served the notice after the committee found the zoo had failed to comply with a direction order on its licence requiring robust management and staffing to be in place. The zoo has 28 days from today (Thursday) to appeal.

The closure order was issued just hours after councillors unanimously refused to grant Mr Gill a fresh six-year licence to operate the zoo.

Councillors are expected to consider another licence application to run the zoo in the coming weeks. It has been submitted by Cumbria Zoo Company Limited (CZC), who have been operating the zoo since January 12.

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Committee chairman Tony Callister said the decision was made because councillors were not satisfied conservation matters referred to in the Zoo Licensing Act would be implemented.

The committee had taken into account that Mr Gill had been convicted under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 regarding the escape of a number of sacred ibis.

The meeting also heard from Nicola O’Brien of the Captive Animals Protection Society.

“In our 60 years of campaigning against the zoo industry and in my short time at the charity this is one of the worst cases we have ever seen,” she said.

Katie Richards, from charity Born Free, said she had visited the zoo on Sunday and had been able to take part in feeding a jaguar using a pair of tongs through a cage.

She said: “I was absolutely gobsmacked by how close you could get to those animals.

“The problem here and the issue is both animal welfare and public safety – I felt very unsafe in that situation.”

Superintendent Rob O’Connor, from Cumbria Constabulary, told the meeting he had “serious concerns” about the zoo’s ability to fulfil its firearms responsibilities after learning only three of the staff currently held firearms certificates.

He said a staff rota showed on six days in February only one staff member with the correct certification had been on site.

After the meeting CZC released a statement saying it would have its licensing inspection later this month.

“Safari Zoo remains open and CZCL need your support,” it read.

Mr Gill did not attend meeting and was instead represented by Steve Walker, of Livingstons Solicitors.

He applied for the meeting to be adjourned, saying there had been insufficient time for him to go through the documents submitted prior to the meeting, but this was declined by the committee.

It remains to be seen whether or not the decisions will be appealed, but before that happens CZC hopes to have its own licence application to take over the running of the zoo.

They have already been operating the zoo under Mr Gill’s licence since signing an agreement on January 12. Mr Walker told the committee that CZC had already acquired the land at the zoo from Mr Gill on a six-month lease. He added that should the second application be successful, that would automatically trigger an extension to the agreement for a further eight years.

Throughout the attempts of trying to obtain a new zoo licence, one of the key issues for inspectors and councillors has been the continued involvement of Mr Gill. Mr Walker, however, said that was no longer the case.

“Cumbria Zoo Company has no link to Mr Gill,” said Mr Walker. “The council do not want Mr Gill to hold a new licence. Inspectors don’t want Mr Gill to hold a new licence. Cumbria Zoo Company and David Gill do not want him to have a new licence.

“He’s only making this application today because he knows if he doesn’t the zoo will close.”

Following the decision, Barrow MP John Woodcock criticised Mr Gill’s attitude, but said he remained optimistic the attraction would still have a future.

He said: “It would be a terrible blow for our community and the visitor economy to lose the zoo and I am hopeful that action can be taken to bring it into line.

“Since being given the privilege of representing Furness in Parliament I have wanted to offer my support to help make this attraction an even greater success, as has the local council. Mr Gill was hugely entrepreneurial in setting up the zoo but in recent years his attitude has made co-operation impossible.”