Farm man’s fight to keep mini-zoo

THE owner of an illegal petting zoo started the battle to save his “lifelong dream” yesterday.

Ben Lancaster (72), owner of Lancaster Farm, is fighting to keep his mini-zoo open after he launched it illegally on green belt land in 2011.

A public inquiry began yesterday to decide the fate of the Middleton Road, Mills Hill, farm, which includes livestock, birds, rodents and mini-beasts.

Oldham Council has served an enforcement order wanting the land to revert to agricultural use and the mini-zoo closed.

In his appeal, Mr Lancaster’s solicitor, John Hunter, said: “The question is whether it should be permitted to remain.

“The council says not. In my submission the council has got it badly wrong in many respects.”

During the first day of the inquiry in which Mr Lancaster, is appealing against an enforcement notice, he questioned the council over the wording of its allegations, forcing the authority to agree to amend them.

Ecologist
He also called in ecologist, Una Maginn, who revealed that, while the footprint of an access track had caused habitat loss, removing it, at the council’s request, would be as bad.

She added: “The enforcement notice requires the track to be removed and reinstated/reseeded.

“In my opinion this would be detrimental to the ecological interest of the area.”

A local resident also voiced their support of the site.

Carol Hope, a teacher at near-by St Matthew’s Primary School, explained that she took her class on a trip to the zoo.

Loved it
She continued: “We were able to walk there and walk round the farm.

“The children were engaged with the animals, feeding them and petting them and holding them.

“They absolutely loved it.

“The parents who came with us were very supportive and really enjoyed it. Since then, many of them have been back.”

She continued: “It’s right there on our doorstep and I would be very sorry to see it go.”

The inquiry was set to continue today.
For the full story buy the Chronicle or read the eChron and iChron digital versions.