Councillors’ unanimous verdict on controversial Parrot Experience application

Blackpool councillors have unanimously refused proposals to open a controversial Parrot Experience attraction after agreeing that it would be “detrimental” to the resort.

Cllr Pam Brookes likened the project, which was opposed by a 16,811-name petition and 18 objection notices, to the days of wild animals appearing in circuses and said it belonged in the past.

The project would have seen the creation of a large indoor space, with artificial ‘jungle’ foliage, where the parrots would freely fly around, and smaller areas where customers would be able to “interact with the birds individually”.

The application lodged with Blackpool Council, for change of use of ground floor premises as a ‘Parrot Experience’ in premises at 64-66 Talbot Road, went before the authority’s planning committee yesterday evening.

The proposals were submitted on behalf of Mr Przemyslaw Antonowicz by Lee Fenton Planning Services, but Mr Antonowicz did not appear at the meeting.

Similarly, there were no spoken representations by opponents of the scheme.

The intended premises had previously been used as a restaurant and more recently as an ice cream shop.

PETA – People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals – had launched its petition and called for the application to be rejected , with the group’s Vice President of Programmes, Elisa Allen, calling for “this exploitative plan to be scrapped, sparing intelligent birds from a stressful and miserable life in captivity.”

However, the planning officer had stated in the recommendation: “The proposals are considered to represent sustainable development in terms of land use, and impact on residential amenity is anticipated to be able to be sufficiently controlled via the imposition of conditions.

“Other regulatory regimes such as Animal Welfare (Licensing Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 are anticipated to adequately control the operation in terms of animal welfare.”

The committee was unanimous in their opposition to the application.

Cllr Julie Sloman said: “There is no natural sunlight in there, we don’t know how much noise there will – it is the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Cllr Pam Brookes said: “It seems to me that this smacks of a step-back in time to the 1900s when we had tigers and elephants in circuses and a monkey in a blue suit.

“We have moved on from this and it is just wrong – this would be detrimental to our brand of tourism.”

Cllr Gerard Walsh said the location was also wrong, pointing to the noise from trams passing down Talbot Road and the presence of a busy pub nearby, which would disturb the birds.

Cllr Brookes proposed a vote to refuse the application, on the grounds that the scheme would have a detrimental impact on the reputation and perceptions of our town as a visitor resort. Cllr Sloman seconded this.

A spokesperson for Blackpool Council said today: “The planning committee last night refused the application for the parrot experience.

“It is felt that the scheme would have a detrimental impact on the reputation and perceptions of our town as a visitor resort. Concerns were raised around the quality of the proposal, animal welfare, and the town centre location.

“While Blackpool Council is working hard to attract investment to the town centre – including investing £2bn across the whole town – the detrimental effects of this proposal outweigh any potential positive impact.”