Chester Zoo Natural Vision Plans

[SMR]

In Chester's case, the investment in planning was a gamble, but, probably, a good gamble...

As I believe has been mentioned already in this thread if folks read back a few pages, so far the investment from Chester has primarily involved the time and expertise of their staff. The monetary cost of the plans was met by a development agency grant.

This is not a matter of anything being swept under the carpet. Rather, it is the reality of the situation in which we currently find ourselves - unless Chester are sitting on a hidden stash of £100 million. I very much hope I am proved wrong, but I do not think I will be.

NESZ is sitting on a huge cash reserve which I would expect to reach half of that at the end of 2010, unless there was a major downturn in visitor numbers (not something I particularly noticed). It is however, a contingency fund, and not a development fund, but it does act as an indicator that they will theoretically be able to afford HoA themselves within five-ten years, bearing in mind that they have to begin within the next five years and that construction on HoA can only proceed after the new entrance and roadways, so that will be the first priority.

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

NZES has had a history of sound footing and being an independent institution has a good financial outlook too. Natural Vision has always taken the long view anyway. So, folks ... pse do not despair. It will come around what comes around ...

 

[adrian1963]

I hope that Chester can find the funding quickly as I have noticed on here nobody as mentioned that if it costs £100m in 12 months time the cost will have gone upto £110m so the quicker they can find the funding the better or will they just go for a dumbed down version for the same cost £100m