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Council reverses decision to close aviary

Claire HamiltonPolitical Reporter Merseyside
Thomas Berrington/BBC News One of the residents of the aviary: an African grey parrot perches on the outstretched hand of a keeper. The bird has a distinctive pink harness and bright yellow eyes. Thomas Berrington/BBC News
One of the residents of the aviary: an African grey parrot

An aviary which was due to close because of council budget cuts and "concerns over animal welfare" will stay open after a U-turn.

A legal challenge by campaigners protesting against the closure of the aviary in the Botanic Gardens in Churchtown, Southport was launched last month. Sefton council said it would be too costly to fight.

The local authority said in June it wanted to shut the attraction because of running costs and the wellbeing of the 170 birds which live there.

In October, campaign group Save Our Aviary, and the Botanic Gardens Community Association (BGCA) announced they were taking legal action against the authority.

Sefton Council has now said fighting a legal challenge would be "an unfair and unnecessary burden on the Sefton taxpayer."

Thomas Berrington/BBC News A pair of wrought iron gates closed shut, with a sign saying "Botanic Gardens Aviary". Behind the gates, you can see the bird houses. Thomas Berrington/BBC News
Campaigners feared the gates of the aviary would close forever

The aviary first opened in 1939. The Botanic Gardens park was owned and operated by the Southport Corporation, which was absorbed into Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council when it was created in 1974. The council has said it is now one of the last local authorities in England to manage a facility that houses animals.

When the council announced its decision to close the aviary, it raised concerns about maintaining the 80 year old structure and said it could "no longer meet the physical, behavioural and psychological needs" of the birds.

However, it appears the strength of feeling and the prospect of a costly court battle has made council bosses change their minds.

A spokesperson for Sefton Council said: "Fighting a legal challenge requires significant expense and this cost is an unfair and unnecessary burden on the Sefton taxpayer.

"As a result of this challenge the operational decision in question has been rescinded by the local authority.

"Sefton Council will now conduct a public consultation into the future of the aviary which will include animal welfare, rising financial demands, current infrastructure and future operational challenges. Details of this consultation will be published in due course."

The BBC understands the consultation could begin as early as next week, will last for 13 weeks and be open to everyone who lives in Sefton.

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