Latest Update from SLSZ

This just in. Please remember this petition is not to find fault but hopefully show a massive level of support. One that cannot be ignored. It's time for the political posturing (on both sides) to end. Today. Keep sharing the petition please folks. We've done brilliantly so far. Now here is the statement (long): It is with regret zoo management have had to come to some hard and upsetting decisions. The very first statement at yesterday's licensing meeting was how Barrow Borough Council wants to work with and has no animosity towards the zoo. The Zoo management team have actively sought resolutions and are desperate to find a solution and a way of working with council officers who appear resolute in their goal to see the closure of the zoo. We have on several occasions approached council leaders, chief executive's Phil Huck and Steve Soulsby for discussion talks only to be refused or most recently totally ignored. Barrow Borough Council seem hellbent, to the point of providing misleading and untrue information to councillors and public via public documents , on driving this zoo into the ground. We are not infallible but what we are is a team of passionate managers who want to work with the council to continue to build and develop not just this zoo but the borough as a region, a region which should have so much to offer. We feel we have been constantly harassed by the council for the past two years, sent enforcement orders before even telling us of any issue to be enforced , pressurising change, creating confusion and fear within the staff and breaking down morale and confidence in the zoo team. We believe that the council has created an atmosphere that increases risks because of the pressure and fear of prosecution at every turn they make. Just because an officer writes a report does not make it true, accurate or logical. All zoo walkways were designed and constructed by external independent contractors with vast expertise. All undergo regular strict maintenence checks. Barrow Borough Council requested an in-depth survey to be repeated in 2015. The engineers who designed and have previously supplied reports underwent company changes in November 2015, the staff remaining in place informed us at that time they could not provide the necessary report this year. A new engineer was found, comissioned and has carried out an on-site survey. They were due to deliver their report Monday but in order to complete had requested code standards from which to work from Barrow Borough Council who delivered that response just yesterday. Today council officers admitted the engineers had been in contact with them directly and the report would be complete in the next couple of days. The zoo asked for 14 days to deliver the report and carry out any necessary. work asked for , no work was asked for before this inspection. The decisions made in council committee amazed us all when a Vet, Matt Brash, who was advising the council on animal matters was asked to give his opinion of the structural issues of the walkways. He decided they should be closed and the committee just agreed . The closure of the walkways without any factual grounds to do so prevents access to many areas and removes disabled access to the zoo. A Veterinary surgeon was used by the council to provide a structural engineering opinion to base a Directive Order on to force the closure of wooden walkways in the Zoo? Barrow Borough Council have requested the rhino muck pile to be moved back from its historic position of the past 16 years which the zoo has done on 3 occasions. the report placed by officers to committee did not state that the inspectors failed to go within around 200m of the pile to make their professional judgement. they simply took a photo from a huge distance and made conclusions and demands based on this . They could have gone in close and inspected at any time if they had requested but they did not. At Tuesdays inspection once again the inspectors failed to enter the field , they could have entered if they had requested but chose to make a decision based on a view from 100m away and no direct view of the distance from fences. However to get resolved this very personalised opinion it was agreed between both parties during a site visit on Tuesday that the pile should move 200 cm more. This despite no Baboon ever jumping over this fence at any time . The real failure of consistency and a professional scientific approach however is the concern of the management. the council are issuing a Directive Order claiming we have not given enough space to prevent an escape of a baboon. Yet the fence at this point is on average 1.2 m higher than at most other points around the baboon enclosure. Many part the fence are just 1.2m high and baboons cannot jump it at all. This area they discuss we find the inspector insisting by Directive order a height of around 2.4 m from ground to top of fence , simply inconsistent, illogical and we have to ask for what reason this issue is being dramatised in this way? This fence has been there for 16 years without issue until this last year when a change of inspectors had their own opinion without any legitimate factual grounds for demanding change. It is hard for lay people to comprehend the issues but any suggestion we do not care or we do not action issues with speed and energy is a lie. We are being subjected to an unprecedented attack and attempt to undermine our credibility and professionalism at every chance created. The Management team cannot work under these conditions and hence the decisions made.