Barrow BC - Licensing Regulatory Committee
44 – Zoo Licensing Act 1981 (as amended) - Zoo Licence for South Lakes
Safari Zoo Ltd – Direction Order - Public Wooden Walkways and
Platforms
The Principal Environmental Health Officer (Commercial) reported that Mr David
Stanley Gill held a Zoo licence issued on 8th June, 2010 to operate a Zoo at
premises known as South Lakes Safari Zoo Ltd, Crossgates, Dalton-in-Furness,
Cumbria.
On 13th August, 2015 the Licensing Regulatory Committee had considered a report
outlining the results of a number of special inspections undertaken since November
2014. The existing condition relating to walkways was amended requiring a report on
the design and construction of the wooden walkways/platforms to be produced by
13th November addressing 6 specific issues.
A periodical/renewal inspection had taken place at the Zoo on 17th and 18th
November, 2015. On 17th December, 2015 it was reported to Members that the
report had not met the requirements of the condition. Members had resolved to
elevate the condition to a Direction Order requiring compliance within 28 days and
that all wooden walkways/platforms be closed to the public until the Direction Order
was revoked.
Members noted that the closure only became necessary after the effective date of
the Direction Order (19th January, 2016) and this was also the date when the 28
days for compliance started in relation to the report.
On 19th January, 2016 the Zoo had submitted an incomplete report as it did not
cover all the wooden walkways/platforms. The Zoo also informed the Council that 5
of the 7 wooden walkways/platforms originally in existence were to be taken down or
remodeled.
On 20th January 2016, Council Officers had visited the Zoo and noted that all
wooden walkways/platforms were closed.
It was fundamental to public safety that the elevated walkways, viewing platforms,
and other similar structures had been designed to the correct standard, but were
also subject to the correct level of inspection and preventative maintenance. A failure
of a walkway or a platform would cause members of the public to fall from height and
may place them in close proximity to dangerous animals that may then hamper
rescue operations.
At the Committee meeting on 17th December, 2015, Ms Karen Brewer, representing
the Zoo, stated that the report on the wooden walkways/platforms should be
complete by the end of the following week (25th December) but early in January the
Council had not received the report. An email had been sent to the Zoo requesting
an update. A report was submitted by the Zoo written by RG Parkins and Partners
Ltd dated 18th January, 2016 and given reference K32719/AR, a copy of which was
attached as an Appendix to the Principal Environmental Health Officer’s report.
At para 2.2 of the report it stated that the original scope of the report was to include
the structural appraisal of the following walkways and viewing platforms:-
a) Tiger/aerial walkway;
b) Snow leopard/Wolf access ramp & viewing platform;
c) Giraffe viewing platform;
d) Anteater viewing platform;
e) Lemur walkway;
f) Bear/Worldwide Safari walkway; and
g) Restaurant balcony.
It added that “during the process of assessing the above walkways, extensive
investigation works had to be undertaken. During this time the scope of the report
was reduced with five of the seven timber structures omitted, however reference to
them still appeared in some of the supporting document. The appraisal included in
this report therefore focused only on the following structures:-
1) Snow Leopard/Wolf access ramp only (viewing platform to be closed); and
2) Bear/Worldwide Safari walkway”.
At para 3.1 of the report referred to a strength grading report to be provided by
CATG Ltd. That report was not included in the main report but Parkins summarised it
by stating:-
• A significant number of the timber components used could not be stress graded
and were therefore unsuitable for use in a structural capacity.
• The timbers that were suitable for use in a structural capacity were of the
lowest structural strength grade used in the UK (except on the Snow
Leopard/Wolf access ramp, which were slightly higher).
On 21st December, 2015 Parkins’ had dug 20 trial pits to assess the state of the
timbers and foundations and summarised the findings in their report.
The report provided a structural appraisal for the Snow Leopard access ramp and
Bear walkway and stated that the findings of the two structures were common across
all seven of the structures.
As the report covered only two of the seven wooden walkways/platforms, Officers
had advised the Zoo that the Direction Order had not been complied with and that
the Zoo would be visited on the morning of 20th January to ensure that all the
wooden walkways/platforms were closed.
The results of that visit were as follows:-
a) Tiger/aerial walkway – the walkway had been removed. The framework
remained as it was being covered to form a roof for the path below. In forming
the roof several posts adjacent to the main walkway would be removed in order
to negate the vehicle impact risk identified at point (3) of the Direction Order.
b) (i) Snow leopard/Wolf access ramp – This area was currently closed. The
walkway would be the second project after (f) below that would undergo works
according to drawing K32719/A3/SK2 of the report. This was the access ramp
to the snow leopard and wolf enclosure. The works would not impact on the
structural integrity of any other structure.
(ii) Snow Leopard/Wolf Viewing Platform - the viewing platform itself would
remain closed. It was due to be dismantled as the Zoo wished to remodel the
viewing experience.
c) Giraffe viewing platform – the platform remained intact with a barrier across the
entrance to prevent public access. The intention was to remove this platform
entirely and create more space for the feeding experience and negate a pinch
point in the walkways.
d) Anteater viewing platform - the platform remained intact with a barrier across
the entrance to prevent public access. The intention was to remove this
platform but possibly leave the frame and transform it into a covered picnic
area.
e) Lemur walkway – only the framework remained as all the walk boards had been
removed. This framework was due to be removed and the area remodelled.
f) Bear/Worldwide Safari walkways – This walkway was closed. The works had
started to introduce the strengthening as detailed in the report. The additional
bearers had been installed but there was work needed to install the cross
bracing and the extra joists. This was drawing K32719/A3/SK1 A of the report.
The Worldwide Safari was an isolated walkway so works to it did not affect any
other structure.
g) Restaurant balcony – this area remained with a temporary barrier to prevent
public access as was typical for the winter months when the Zoo did not use
the area. The Zoo had expressed their desire to replace the platform with a new
structure ready for Spring 2016 but could not provide further details.
An email dated 19th January, 2016 was attached as an appendix to report stating
when and why the decision was made to remove some of the wooden
walkways/platforms.
Ms Karen Brewer, representative from the Zoo attended the meeting and made
representations to the Committee. A report, including images of the walkways was
submitted by South Lakes Safari Zoo to the Environmental Health Department on
2nd February, 2016. Members had received copies and agreed to accept the report
and consider the items contained within it.
Ms Brewer had respectively requested that delegated authority be given to the
Environmental Health Manager to allow each walkway/platform to be released from
the Direction Order as and when they were completed. She stated that the Bear
Walkway was now completed and Parkins would write to the Local Authority
confirming the standards and therefore requested that this item be released from the
Direction Order.
The Snow Leopard/Wolf Access Ramp was almost complete.
The Principal Environmental Health Officer confirmed that he would be happy for the
Direction Order to be varied enabling each platform/walkway be released as and
when completed along with reports ensuring their standard.
As a result of plans to demolish/remodel a number of the wooden
walkways/platforms, recommendations were put before Members for consideration.
All recommendations had been discussed in detail and each of the parties
concerned had been given the opportunity to make representations and ask
questions.
During the course of the meeting, at relevant points, all parties with the
exception of the Committee Members, Paul O’Donnell (Solicitor), Jane Holden
(Acting Principal Legal Officer) and Keely Fisher (Democratic Services Officer)
withdrew and were re-admitted to the meeting following the Committee’s
deliberations.
The recommendations were as follows:-
Recommendation 1
The Zoo be required to confirm that the public wooden walkways/platforms (b)(i) and
(f) as stated above, comply with the six points in the Direction Order. Therefore an
addendum to the current Parkins’ report was required to confirm the remedial works
stated in the report had been undertaken to the required standard.
Recommendation 2
In relation to the wooden walkways/platforms listed as (a),(b)(ii),(c),(d),(e), and (g) if
any framework of the walkways/platforms were to remain in place a report was
required to certify that they were suitable for such use and the points to be
addressed were 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the Direction Order.
Recommendation 3
That the compliance deadline for the reports detailed in Recommendation 1 and 2
(currently 16th February, 2016) be extended by agreement with the Zoo to allow for
remedial works and subsequent reports to be completed.
It was moved by Councillor Seward and duly seconded that the compliance deadline
be extended to 31st May, 2016. The motion was voted upon and unanimously
agreed.
Recommendation 4
The Environmental Health Manager be given delegated authority to revoke the
Direction Order once the points specified in it had been complied with.
It was moved by Councillor Sweeney and duly seconded that the recommendation
be amended and that the following wording be added at the end of the
recommendation:
“and vary the extent of the Direction Order once acceptable evidence has been
supplied for any walkways/platforms listed (a) to (g) in RG Parkins’ report of 18th
January, 2016”.
The amendment was voted upon and unanimously agreed.
Recommendation 5
That all wooden walkways/platforms remain closed until the Direction Order is
revoked.
It was moved by Councillor Derbyshire and duly seconded that the wording of the
Recommendation be amended to add “or varied” to the end of the recommendation.
The amendment was voted upon and unanimously agreed.
RESOLVED:-
1. That the Zoo be required to confirm that the public wooden
walkways/platforms (b)(i) and (f) as stated above, comply with the six points in
the Direction Order. Therefore an addendum to the current Parkins’ report
was required to confirm the remedial works stated in the report had been
undertaken to the required standard;
2. That it be agreed that in relation to the wooden walkways/platforms listed as
(a),(b)(ii),(c),(d),(e), and (g) if any framework of the walkways/platforms were
to remain in place a report was required to certify that they were suitable for
such use and the points to be addressed were 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the Direction
Order;
3. That it be agreed that the compliance deadline for the reports detail in
Recommendations 1 and 2 (currently 16th February, 2016) be extended to
31st May, 2016 by agreement with the Zoo to allow for remedial works and
subsequent reports to be completed;
4. That the Environmental Health Manager be given delegated authority to
revoke the Direction Order once the points specified in it had been complied
with and vary the extent of the Direction Order once acceptable evidence had
been supplied for any walkway/platforms listed (a) to (g) in RG Parkins’ report
of 18th January, 2016; and
5. That all wooden walkways/platforms remain closed until the Direction Order
was revoked or varied.
