Isle of Wight MP Bob Seely has raised concerns in parliament about the financial pressure that zoos – particularly the Isle of Wight Zoo – currently face.
During a debate on the reopening of zoos, aquariums and wildlife sanctuaries, Bob spoke about the plight of the Isle of Wight Zoo which had remained closed since the 24th March.
Mr Seely said the Isle of Wight Zoo could not access Defra’s zoo fund because it had more than 6 weeks of operating income at the time of applying. He said the qualifying period was far too short leaving many zoos under extreme financial pressure.
Andrew Rosindell MP who lead the debate said:
“The reality is that we are going to see some of these organisations close permanently if the government doesn’t rethink the extra support that they need at this time.”
Defra Minister, Rebecca Pow, was present at the debate to listen to MPs concerns.
Mr Seely stressed to the Minister that the Isle of Wight Zoo – which had running costs of £50,000 a month – could not restrict their outgoings in the way that other sectors, such as non-essential retail, could and put a number of suggestions to the Minister including:
- A longer than 6-week financial qualifying period for the Defra support package.
- A review of the 2-metre rule and the adoption of a 1-metre rule.
- The creation of a regeneration fund for zoos and other visitor attractions.
- More flexibility for councils in the use of leftover funds from COVID-19 related grants.
- A reduction in VAT on tourism for the next one to two years.
- Consideration be given to the use of gift aid.
Mr Seely highlighted concerns that not all animal sanctuaries and collections on the Island could reopen because they were largely indoors. He also said some were wary of opening because of the potential lack of visitors. He stressed that where they could reopen, they should be given the freedom to act responsibly:
“It is also important for the Minister to understand that Isle of Wight Zoo, the donkey sanctuary and Monkey Haven are not just visitor attractions, important though that is to our economy; they are also last-refuge sanctuaries for endangered animals.”
Ms Pow assured MPs that she had heard their concerns and said the support scheme would remain under review in relation to how soon the Government could provide support when a zoo was running out of funds.
She said the Government recognised that visitor numbers may not bounce back to the levels zoos would have expected for this time of year and confirmed she had heard the calls for a wide range of other wildlife enterprises, including farm parks to open.
i quote “More flexibility for councils in the use of leftover funds from COVID-19 related grants.”
As if the Council will have any left over and if they did, i wonder where it will go?
If any left, it will go on Sausages
Give it up Bob, why are you trying to help a zoo that allows personnel to take tigers for walks along Sandown beach, even islanders aren’t allowed to take dogs there. What is going on? Do us all a favour Bob, if people want to go to a proper zoo, they are not going to come over. Just a way of getting cash and not really helping anyone but the elite, as usual.
Reduction on VAT on tourism – how is that going to help residents who live here?
Leave the 2 metre rule as is, don’t mess about with 1 metre, even if 1 metre was brought in, if anyone comes within 2 metres of me and the virus is still around, they better back off quick.
Council leftover funds, that’s a joke, if there is any “leftovers” maybe put it into council tax reductions for island residents.
Regeneration for zoos and tourist attractions, no way Bob. I know you like to ignore the common islanders who are born and who have lived here all of their lives, but come on, are you joking? I will answer that myself, of course you are not joking, you’re very serious at running the island like a 2nd and 3rd homeowners dream destination.
The zoo hasn’t walked tigers on the beach since the mid 80’s.
the zoo should close. It is a prison for creatures that should be in their natural environments, living their lives in the way nature intended, amongst their own kind.
Not incarcerated in a wired pen, for humans to gawp at them.
Go visit them to see how happy they are NOW compared to where they were rescued from!!
no – they need to be released back to the wild where they belong – free to roam, rather than stuck in a wired jail house.
Did they tell you they were happy or are they just trying to get food as the humans have made them dependent on them against their will.
we have no right whatsoever to lock creatures up, out of their natural habitats – set them free.
They would, all die. Almost all were born in captivity and were rescued from a life hell in other zoos or entertainment venues across europe.
Put them in the wild and they wouldn’t have a clue. ( like asking you to build a helicopter from scratach ) Try educating yourself on why the animals are their at the zoo in the first place before you criticise.
So our great MP gets a chance to talk in the House of Commons and he talks about the Zoo. Is he for real?
Well in a debate on “The reopening of zoos etc…” I would expect him to talk about zoos.
Let them eat sausages so we can look for a new MP