Edinburgh Zoo calls for support ahead of inquiry

Published on Monday 22 September 2008 10:19

EDINBURGH Zoo has called on the public to show their support for the attraction, ahead of a public inquiry into a vital element of their 20 year masterplan.

The inquiry into the council's local plan will examine the Zoo's proposed sale of some of its land on the Corstorphine Hill site to fund elements of the masterplan.

Approval for the sale, which would see the area developed for housing, was initially granted in 2007, but this decision was reversed later in the year by the new Council administration in producing its Local Plan for the city.

If the decision is not reconsidered by the council, the Zoo says it will be under severe financial pressure as it tries to fund the 72 million masterplan.

A feasibility study revealed that the land at the western side of the Zoo was surplus to the needs of the attraction, and was in contravention of the Disability Discrimination Act because of its steep gradient.

The attraction has insisted any profit made from housing developments would be channelled back into the Zoo to help it realise its aim of becoming a world class visitor attraction.

David Windmill, the Chief Executive of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, the charity that owns Edinburgh Zoo and Highland Wildlife Park, has now called for members of the public to show their support.

Mr Windwill: "The future of Edinburgh Zoo depends upon our providing an exciting and inspiring day out for our visitors.

"All this takes money and lots of it with a Zoo nearly 100 years old and covering 87 acres. In the absence of any government or local authority funding, the Society has to rely entirely on its own resources.

"This is why the Society needs to raise substantial sums of money by developing some surplus land along the western boundary of the Zoo.

"The issue is simple. Does the city of Edinburgh want a world-class visitor attraction and conservation organisation?"

The public inquiry is scheduled to start tomorrow, but the Zoo has been told discussion on the decision to sell off part it's land will not be heard until December.