The local authority didn't have anything to do with the zoo in Scotia days did it? I thought it took over in partnership with Bristol Zoo in order to save the zoo after Scotia had announced its closure in 1977 - more than 3 1/2 years after the death of Cuddles who had been sold and was about to leave the zoo in the wake of the wrangle over the lack of planning permission for his pool.
Just consulted "They Live At The Castle". Clinton Keeling says the zoo (or technically the Dudley Zoological Society Ltd) changed hands on 20th February 1978 for £450,000, with the council lending £250,000 which was paid over immediately.
