Bird lovers stunned as council pulls the plug on parrot show

By Louise Male

BIRD fanciers have been left sick as a parrot after a tropical bird show in Harrogate was axed amid fears it would break the law.
Hundreds of the colourful, squawking birds were set to descend on the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate for a national event, eagerly awaited by owners of the tropical birds.
But feathers were ruffled when protesters said sales of birds would be taking place at the event which is open to the public.
Organisers of the event, due to take place on March 27 at the Yorkshire Event Centre, Wetherby Road, claimed objections by animal rights activists had led to the event's cancellation.
Chattering parrots and their owners from across the country were planning to descend on the town after successfully staging similar events before.
An official of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society said after discussions with Harrogate Borough Council the decision had been made not to go ahead with the event. But they refused to elaborate further.
One of the organisers, Les Rance from Hertfordshire, secretary of the Parrot Society UK, claimed that the local authority had come under pressure from protesters over birds being sold in contravention of the Animal Act 1951.
Disappointed
Organisers pointed out that sales of parrots were for members to exchange birds among themselves. Mr Rance said the act had been introduced to stop cruelty to animals, particularly in London, from people making a living from sales.
He said a new animal bill was being prepared by the government to bring animal welfare legislation up to date. "Two thousand people came to the event last year and thoroughly enjoyed it. Members will be very disappointed," he said.
Nicky Garside, assistant director of health for Harrogate Borough Council, said the parrot show itself did not need a licence. What had caused the difficulty was members of the parrot society wanting to sell birds to fellow members while the public were attending the show.
Because organisers wanted to sell parrots at a public event, it was not possible to grant a licence.
The official said it would not be correct to say pressure had been put on the council, but animal rights had shared information with them that the law would be broken if sales took place at a public event. Counsel's opinion from a similar case in the Midlands had confirmed this was the situation.
louise.male@ypn.co.uk