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Three Owls has closed its doors
Reporter: Laura Wild
Date online: 07/02/2010
Three Owls Bird Sanctuary in Norden has sadly had to close the doors to its hospital and stop its aviary-work with the birds because they have struggled to keep up with the legislation required – the trustees at the sanctuary decided on Friday (5 February) that there was no way forward for Three Owls to continue in its present form.
The final straw came for the sanctuary when they received a letter from the council, which read:
"Discussions between yourself and Council officers on earlier occasions have allowed the Council to understand the current operating practises on site. Details of these have been relayed to the Council's legal team on two separate occasions; in both instances it has been deemed that the current operating practices lie within the scope of the Act, thereby requiring the Sanctuary to obtain a Zoo Licence."
The Sanctuary Trustees have explored possible angles to try and meet the Council's requirements for Zoo Licensing.
However, as the Charity has never been designed to be a zoo with all the implications that brings with it, then it is neither physically feasible nor financially viable to try and meet all the regulations or exemptions which Rochdale Council are insisting are met.
In a post on the Sanctuary’s website, Trustee Nigel Fowler, wrote: “I am very much aware of all the hard work that the public have gone to in providing funding in answer to our appeals; had this simply been a funding matter, then we may have stood a greater chance of overcoming it. However, it is far more than that, funding has been tight, but we we're getting through that. This legislation we have been faced with is insurmountable with the way Three Owls is set out to operate, I just wish they had presented the Act to us back in 1981 when it first came to power. As it now stands, Three Owls would be classed as a zoo, and the implications that come with that are onerous and far too costly both in terms of money and bird welfare – hence the difficult but essential decision to close.”
The Sanctuary will not be accepting new casualties into the hospital, but they will endeavour to find good homes at other sanctuaries for all the birds that cannot be released in the near future, or are permanent residents.
Mr Fowler, continued: “Closing the Sanctuary is very much a last resort, and this decision has only been taken when we are sure that there are no other viable options left open to us. It is, however, a decision that the Trustees have collectively made, and it is important for the birds' welfare that we make it, and don't have closure forced upon us. This ensures that we have the timescale needed to re-house the resident birds in the coming months.”
Have Your Say
The council staff have hidden behind lawyers again. They provide an opinion - that is all it is. Had the council wanted to keep this open they could have done it. Instead they take the cop out option. This facility has been around at least 40 years to my knowledge and has done so much for bird welfare and kids education. The council should be ashamed. How will they explain themselves when they want their 4% tax increase? The people of Rochdale have got to start fighting back.
I am devestated at the news that the Three Owls has closed. From the age 12 to 15, I worked there as a volunteer.
To my mind it was a valuable asset to the community, albeit one that was taken for granted by the majority.
I am sure that the decision to close was not taken likely, and I feel very sorry for the staff, and especially Nigel who have worked extremely hard, in keeping Eileen Watkinsons dream alive.
A big thank you for all the pleasure it has given my family and I, over the years
Three Owls was one of those special organisations which made Rochdale a little bit different. I wonder what efforts the Council have made to help the Trustees meet the legal requirements to keep it open.
If we are not careful Rochdale will have no unique selling points left apart from Hollingworth Lake.
Another example of Rochdale Council's complete disregard for what the tax payers of this borough actually want.
Yet the people in charge are untouchable in this town.
4% your having a laugh!
Mrs Watkinson will probally be round to haunt these redneck cretins in the Council responsible for this bit of short-sighted idiocy.
We are 'led 'in this town by people who have no sense of history or any vision for the future.
We need to remind the Council that they are civil servants - derived from the Latin, meaning servants of the people, they do our bidding, they do not dictate to us, we need to remeber this and stop them, the tail, wagging us, the dog!
Sack this set of incompetents now!
Shocking news.
The council should be thoroughly ashamed.
I'm disgusted.
Just wait until all the local councillors are looking to be re-elected. No chance.
It is not the council who has closed the Three Owls down, they have had to act on complaints recieved by an animal welfare association last July, which has serious implications, and laws to be adhered to.
Officers and Councillors have been in constant talks with Nigel Fowler for ways round this and still continue to do so, sadly Nigel decided last week that he had had enough and he took the decision to close.
This is so sad and very close to my heart.
Of all the problems in Rochdale, all the injustices, fly tipping, etc, the thing that Rochdale Council lawyers are asked to turn their attention to is the Three Owls Bird Sanctuary!
Which bird brain instructed this action?
Was the other 'real' legal work that might actually benefit the residents of Rochdale too difficult for them?
It must be so as they certainly aren't acting in the interests of Rochdale here.
Shame on you Rochdale Council.
Eagle states that Rochdale will have no unique selling points left apart from Hollingworth Lake but don’t assume that, the council will close that if they are able.
Streetshack says there is no sense of history or any vision for the future, and that is plain to see.
I sponsor a hooded crow at Three Owls and I feel that it is criminal what our local politicians and the RSPB have done to close it down. The politicians should be supporting Three Owls as opposed to systematically destroying it.
Does anyone know which animal welfare organisation made the complaint?
I racked my brains to work out why, after 40 years the council discover the Three Owls doesn't comply with legislation. Then I remembered something about the BNP offering support a while back, surely this can't have anything to do with it can it? Our Council wouldn't be so petty as to punish birds for political reasons would they?
One more thing, exactly how long have the Council failed to enforce the regulations that are obviously there to protect us? Can we sue?
I also run a sanctuary and I am amazed on how quick Three Owls have chucked in the towel. We have a zoo license and we also went through the same episode with the council.
Our zoo licence with safety barriers cost us £550, not the huge amount talked about.
Looking at their charity accounts, more goes on salaries, etc than the animals? A drop in wages would pay for a zoo licence.
A licence applies to all sanctuaries who are open to the public, what makes them different from the others?
Very sad news.
By Chill @ 07/02/2010 19:47:22
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