Sefton Council leader Marion Atkinson has said that the planned closure of the Botanic Gardens aviary “is not about money”, during a bitter debate at Southport Town Hall on Thursday (16 July).
Councillors voted down a Liberal Democrat motion to save the aviary by 32 votes to 27, with no abstentions.
The aviary, open since 1939, was earmarked for closure by Sefton Council earlier this month, with a planned closing date of March 2027.
Liberal Democrat Councillor Daniel Lewis of Meols ward, had asked the council to allocate proceeds of the sale of Number 2 Lodge at Botanic Gardens towards the £60,000 annual operational costs, saving the aviary.
Instead, Councillor Atkinson cited animal welfare concerns as Labour’s justification to oppose the motion, to the fury of assembled Botanic Gardens volunteers in the public gallery.
The position appears to be at odds with Labour MP Patrick Hurley, who last week held a public meeting in support of saving the aviary.
How, and when, the 170 birds housed at the aviary will be re-homed remains unclear.
Much of the debate focused on an FAQ published on the Sefton Council website that says that the closure is “for a number of reasons, principally the welfare of the animals and the need to greatly improve the infrastructure while faced with growing budgetary constraints”.
It also says that the closure is “an operational budget decision that was to make savings to the Sefton Council budget”.
Leader of Sefton Council, Labour’s Marion Atkinson told the council chamber: “This closure is not about money, despite the Liberal Democrats making everyone think it is.”
Councillor Atkinson praised the work of Botanic Gardens volunteers, but said that “none of these animals and birds were put on earth for the pleasure of of human beings”.
“This is all about the welfare of the birds and the animals that are currently held in captivity. Cages that are far too small for them.
“On average, each bird has the equivalent space to fly of four washing machines stacked two by two. The aviary is an unnatural habitat. Aviaries are a legacy of an era that didn’t care about the welfare of animals and birds.”
“In fact, the Liberal Democrats have robust policy positions on the welfare of animals and birds, including a pledge to ban cages for laying hens. So what’s the difference with the aviary? The difference is that all of their animal and bird welfare commitments are immediately forgotten when they sniff a bit of political expediency.
“Well, shame on you. Shame on you for not standing up. Shame on you for not standing up for the very creatures you pretend to care so much about.”
Green Councillor Neil Doolin said that “sudden freedom or change is not the correct approach” for animals born in captivity.
“They have learned to depend on humans and need our continued intervention and protection.”
Responding, Councillor Lewis told the chamber: “Earlier you said John Pugh had offended an officer. You’ve just called the people who work at the Aviary animal abusers enacting cruelty on the poor parrots of Southport! It’s an animal rescue centre! They are saving birds!”