Animal World is spared axe
8:49am Wednesday 9th February 2011 in News
THE popular Animal World mini-zoo in Moss Bank Park has been saved from closure.
In September, The Bolton News revealed that the popular attraction was to be axed as part of Bolton Council’s drive to save more than £60 million over the next two years.
But after a storm of protest — including a 4,000-signature petition organised by public sector workers’ union Unison — Town Hall chiefs have acted to save the attraction.
Some of those animals classed as wild, such as lizards, squirrels and deer, will be re-housed elsewhere so the council can apply for exemption from zoo licensing.
Having a zoo licence requires two full-time members of staff to be on the site at all times and meeting the stringent requirements is seen as onerous and time consuming. The butterfly house is also to close, with the council looking at providing a cafe in its place, and over the summer, the authority will start charging visitors 50p per visit as part of a trial to see if it can become selfsustainable.
Cllr Sufrana Bashir-Ismail, Executive member for cleaner, greener, safer, said: “We have listened to the concerns of residents, the unions and staff and decided to keep it open, with a few changes.
“Now, we want people to come out and support Animal World because if they do not, there may come a time when we have to look again at whether we have to close it.”
Union chiefs, who led the campaign to keep Animal World open, said they were delighted with the U-turn.
Andrea Egan, assistant branch secretary of Unison, said: “We are pleased and we look forward to working with our members to help shape the future of Animal World.
“This has been a very good campaign and it reinforces the view that when the community, residents and the union work together we can make a difference.
“We want to thank the public for their support and the Executive member for listening and making this decision.”
The council has also revealed that popular parks events such as the Kite Festival in Moss Bank Park and the annual bonfire and firework display at Leverhulme Park have also been saved from the chop.
Bolton At Home, which will take over the 18,500-strong council housing stock in April, has agreed to partfund the salary of an events officer to oversee the events.
Public toilets at the bus station, in Great Moor Street, at Westhoughton Market and in King Street, Farnworth, will all remain open.
But Cllr Ismail-Bashir said: “If these are vandalised or require any major work in the future, then we will have to review their position.”
