Allestree Park petting zoo to become latest victim of council cuts
A MUCH-LOVED petting zoo which campaigners fought to save in 2008 is facing the chop once more after 30 years of entertaining families.
Derby City Council wants to close Allestree Park pets' corner in February or March to save £25,000 from its 2013/14 budget.
The closure would leave the attraction's 20 chickens and 10 rabbits needing a new home.
The Friends of Allestree Park, which helps the council to look after the park, fought to keep the attraction open when it was last threatened.
Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk
View detailsOur heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.
Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk
Contact: 01858 468192
Valid until: Friday, May 31 2013
In 2008, a 3,000-name petition was put together against the move.
But this time the organisation has said it is resigned to the closure.
The city council says it must make savings of £62.4m over the next three years because of reductions to its grant from the Government, inflation and Derby's growing population.
Friends secretary Peter Grundy said it was "very sad".
He said: "The quality of care for the animals and number of animals has been dropping. It's been running down for a while now.
"We don't feel we can save the pets' corner this time."
Mr Grundy said the attraction used to be a lot larger when the city council could afford a ranger to come and feed the animals each day.
He said: "It's one of the few attractions Allestree Park has now and children still enjoy it."
A city council spokeswoman said that the pets' corner animals would all be relocated.
She said: "We already have an option for the chickens but we could consider public adoption of rabbits.
"Subject to the budget decision being confirmed, we would begin to make arrangements and intend to close in February or March."
In 2008, the city council proposed closing the attraction to save £5,000 a year on maintenance and ranger costs.
In the end, cash was found in the authority's parks budget to keep the attraction open.
Joseph Newsum, of Osmaston Park Road, was nine last time the petting zoo was threatened with closure. Now 13, he still enjoys visiting the attraction.
He said: "I think it is so unfair that children won't be able to go and see the animals any more. They should keep it open – and get some more animals."
Comments
by WikkiTikki
Wednesday, January 09 2013, 6:10PM
“I've just been discussing this with my children. My 9 year old says the council should be re named The Derby Destroyers.”
by ianshelton
Wednesday, January 09 2013, 9:43AM
“Sponsorship is a nice idea... maybe a local takeaway could step in, poised to strike when their deal comes to an end ....”
by sinfinsam
Wednesday, January 09 2013, 2:42AM
“You would think that one of the banks that caused all of these problems would step in with sponsorship if just to show that they had a little bit of a conscience.”
by JediMaster82
Tuesday, January 08 2013, 4:36PM
“@dianae - You're thinking of Heaton Park. A place I visited dozens of times as a child growing up in Manchester, and very much like Markeaton Park in the sense of being large, council owned, limited hall remaining and a petting corner.”
by kessie2012
Tuesday, January 08 2013, 4:17PM
“£25.000 a year to keep those few animals garbage the feed would not exceed £1.000 a year with bedding id do the job for nothing and get volanteers ley the people who visit buy the food with donations to start with theres no need for wages put it in the rspca s hands let them look after such a few animals theres plenty of retired animal lovers loking for things to do me for one .ive quite a collection myself so id welcome helping a few more that place there could be a little gold mine run proper bet the £25.000 gets wasted on useless things we can do without lets get rid of one mp derby only nedd 2 max theres getting on for £200.000 a year we waste with thier 2nd homes ect what do we get back nothing at least these animals give us joy .”
by Anony_Mouse
Tuesday, January 08 2013, 1:42PM
“by ianshelton
"Good suggestion - Markeaton would make total sense."
The animals would be dead in a week once the low life that infests Markeaton Park at night found out they were there.”
by charlllpop
Tuesday, January 08 2013, 12:12PM
“I'll have a wabbit please!”
by Mr_Rational
Tuesday, January 08 2013, 11:47AM
“This is undoubtedly bad news. The chickens that looked as though they had their PJs on were hilarious and worth every penny.
I'm intrigued to see a mouse having a go at rats, though. Verminous creatures clearly have less logical ability, than you'd think.”
by Derby400
Tuesday, January 08 2013, 11:04AM
“There is scope to raise money by having a proper cafe serving the public (ie not just golfers) and use the rent to put towards facilities such as this. The cafe at Darley must do very well - I think a cafe at Allestree would do well enough to be profitable and would bring in more visitors too.”
by Anony_Mouse
Tuesday, January 08 2013, 10:53AM
“Another spiteful cut by the socialist rats in the council house. I guarantee if this had been in Normanton it wouldnt have been cut.
Dozens of services across the city are being decimated by the political gesturing of the incompetent council as it saves money to invest in its own loony left schemes,”