Zoo owner applies for judicial review of approach by council to licensing

The founder of a zoo has applied to take Barrow Borough Council to judicial review over its licensing of South Lakes Safari Zoo, it has been reported.

David Gill claimed more than £500,000 of public funds had been spent on activities which damaged the standing, image and financial viability of the zoo, the Westmoreland Gazette reports.

Gill held a licence to operate the zoo since 1994 until Barrow earlier this year refused a licence and made a closure order.

The zoo subsequently remained open while the newly formed Cumbria Zoo Company applied for a licence, which was approved by Barrow in May.

In a statement made to the newspaper, Gill said: “It is our submission that the council, its employees and Defra inspectors have not acted in a fair and balanced manner in the way reports are written.

“Facts are presented without clarification or quantifying explanations with examples of the standards applicable, or reference to other factual evidence from similar zoos.”

In a statement last month Barrow said it had resolved to licence Cumbria Zoo Company for four years, “subject to the withdrawal of the appeal by Mr David S Gill against the refusal of his fresh licence…within five working days of receipt of the written notice of this decision”.

It went on to say the licence was granted on 12 May as the previous day “Mr David S Gill’s zoo licence was surrendered to the council and [he] has now withdrawn appeals against the refusal of his application for a fresh zoo licence and the issuing of a zoo closure direction.”

Mark Smulian