Victory for parrots as Blackpool Council rejects ‘Parrot Experience’

(c) Born Free

The application sought permission to convert ground-floor commercial premises within the town centre into an attraction where visitors could interact with “free-roaming” parrots and other exotic birds in an artificial indoor “jungle”. The plans included smaller areas in which customers would be able to interact with birds individually.  

Following objections from Born Free Foundation and other animal welfare organisations, as well as considerable public opposition, councillors voted unanimously to refuse the application. 

Born Free submitted a detailed objection, following the receipt of a Raise the Red Flag report by a concerned member of the public. Fundamental concerns were raised about the suitability of the proposed premises and the potential consequences for both the birds and people visiting or working at the attraction.

Parrots are highly intelligent, socially complex and long-lived wild animals. Their physical, psychological and social needs cannot be met simply by adding artificial foliage to an enclosed commercial unit. 

Further concerns were raised about the premises ability to satisfy the needs of captive birds, the apparent lack of natural light, insufficient information about ventilation and air quality and the potential risk of exposure to zoonotic disease. 

Born Free also noted that the proposed business would be likely to fall within the scope of the Zoo Licensing Act 1981 because it intended to exhibit wild animals to the public for more than seven days in a 12-month period. Based on the submitted plans, we questioned whether the facility could meet the relevant requirement to accommodate animals in conditions designed to satisfy the biological and conservation needs of their species.  

Members of Blackpool Council’s planning committee expressed clear concerns about animal welfare, the quality of the proposal and the suitability of the town-centre site.  

Julie Sloman drew attention to the absence of natural sunlight and uncertainty surrounding noise, describing the proposal as being in “the wrong place at the wrong time”. Gerard Walsh also highlighted the likely impact on the birds of noise from passing trams and a nearby busy pub.  

Pam Brookes compared the attraction with outdated forms of animal entertainment, saying: 

“We have moved on from this and it is just wrong.” 

The committee ultimately refused permission on the grounds that the development would damage the reputation and perception of the town as a visitor resort.  

Parrot photo prop, Portugal © Mike Dooley for Born Free

Reacting to the announcement, Born Free’s Captivity Research & Policy Manager Chris Lewis said, “Born Free welcomes the committee’s recognition that attractions based on the public display and handling of captive wild animals belong in the past. 

“Parrots are not props, performers or photo opportunities for Selfish Selfies. They are sentient wild animals whose welfare can be compromised by confinement, frequent interaction with unfamiliar people, noise and the inability to withdraw fully from public attention.” 

While this decision is an important victory, it also illustrates a wider problem. Planning proposals involving wild animals may be assessed through a mixture of planning, licensing and animal welfare regimes, with decisionmakers unable to reject proposals based purely on animal welfare concerns 

Born Free believes animal welfare must be considered from the outset. A fundamentally unsuitable location or facility cannot necessarily be made acceptable through operating conditions imposed after planning permission has been granted. 

We thank the members of Blackpool Council’s planning committee for listening to the concerns raised and for reaching a unanimous decision. We also thank all those members of the public who spoke out against the proposal. Their collective response sent a powerful message that responsible tourism should respect and protect wild animals, not confine them in artificial environments for close-contact entertainment. 

Blackpool has rightly rejected a step backwards. We hope this decision will encourage other local authorities and tourism businesses to pursue compassionate, forward-looking attractions that do not depend on the captivity or exploitation of wild animals.