A CONTROVERSIAL zoo owner at the centre of an animal deaths scandal has appealed a decision to remove his licence to keep wild animals just seven days before the attraction he owns faced closure.

Self-styled conservationist David Gill had been given 28 days to appeal Barrow Borough Council's refusal to grant him permission to run South Lakes Safari Zoo, in Dalton, on March 6.

But the formal appeal notice, submitted to the authority on Thursday, means the zoo can now remain open while Mr Gill's legal case is pending.

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The management of the newly formed company at the helm of south Cumbria's largest tourist attraction, Cumbria Zoo Company Ltd, hopes this will provide them with enough time to secure their own zoo licence.

Mr Gill's solicitor Steve Walker, of Livingstons Solicitors, in Dalton, said his client did not want to be involved with the running of the zoo.

He added: "The first hearing is likely to be in late April or early May, which will be a timetabling hearing.

"The substantive hearing will probably be in late May depending on court time and availability."

Last month, the Evening Mail revealed how nearly 500 animals died at South Lakes Safari Zoo under Mr Gill's watch in less than four years.

Post mortems on the exhibits - which included tigers, giraffes and a rhino - found poor animal husbandry, emaciation, hypothermia and infighting caused by overstocked pens among the causes.

It caused an international public outcry and attracted a closure call from animal welfare pressure groups such as the Born Free Foundation and the Captive Animal Protection Society.

The future of South Lakes Safari Zoo, which reported visitor numbers of 250,000 last year, now rests in the hands of government zoo inspectors who are compiling a report on the effectiveness of the team responsible for running the site on a daily basis.

The inspectors are expected to make a recommendation on whether a licence should be granted to Cumbria Zoo Company within the next three weeks following a two day visit on March 13 and 14.

The final decision will then be taken by members of Barrow Borough Council's licensing committee - who have the power to grant a zoo licence if they consider it appropriate.

Cumbria Zoo Company chief executive Karen Brewer said Mr Gill's appeal notice would help 'buy time' for her team as they sought to turn the fortunes of the zoo around.

She said: "There have been dramatic changes since we took over.

"What better team could there be in place as we all knew what had to be changed?

"People can come and talk to us about the animals and to make sure the welfare issues have been addressed.

“We having nothing to hide, the animals are being well cared for. The inspectors have now told us we are meeting the standards required of a modern zoo."

The zoo management firm are now aiming to have their licencing application heard in May.

Mrs Brewer added: "We are still open and want people to come to see for themselves that the perceived issues have been dealt with.

"We have had three inspections by DEFRA-appointed inspectors this year and each time they have reported we are dealing with the problems left by the previous company.

“We are not perfect, we always have things to learn, but we are passionate about the zoo, passionate about the animals and passionate about the place the safari zoo has in the zoo world."

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