The Aviary at Botanic Gardens will stay open.
That’s the message from Sefton Council this afternoon who say they won’t fight a legal challenge over their hugely controversial decision to close the aviary, which was announced earlier this year.
Now the council will instead ‘consult the public’ about the future of the aviary.
When contacted a Council spokesperson declined to answer questions over whether this meant the facility could still close down in the future.
A spokesperson for Sefton Council said: “As has already been publicised, Sefton Council has received a legal challenge over an operational decision to close the Aviary at Botanic Gardens in Southport.
“Fighting a legal challenge requires significant expense and this cost is an unfair and unnecessary burden on the Sefton taxpayer.
“As a result of this challenge the operational decision in question has been rescinded by the Local Authority.
“Sefton Council will now conduct a public consultation into the future of the Aviary which will include animal welfare, rising financial demands, current infrastructure and future operational challenges.
“Details of this consultation will be published in due course.”