Circuses featuring performing animals could be allowed to set up their big top in Walsall despite a storm of protest from campaigners, if councillors agree. Walsall Council earns £250 a day and up to £2,000 for eight days hiring its land out to touring circuses such as Bobby Roberts’ and its touring Indian elephant.
The circus caused a storm when it came to the borough with arthritic elephant Annie, aged 52.
The Cabinet will be asked on Wednesday to ignore public demands for a blanket ban on circuses and other events with performing animals.
This is despite the majority of councillors, including leader Tom Ansell, calling for an inflexible order that would completely put a stop to the practice within the borough.
Councillor Ansell and others spoke out at a full council meeting earlier this year following protests by animal welfare campaigners throughout Bobby Roberts’ Super Circus visit to Walsall Arboretum in May.
But councillor Ansell and his Cabinet are being asked to approve a policy that does not ban any such event but instead would allow the committee to decide each application for land hire on its merits.
In a report to Cabinet, it is claimed the authority cannot bar a circus on the grounds it uses performing animals as this is not illegal. Acceptable grounds for refusal would instead be traffic disruption or damage to land.
Councillor Kath Phillips said it was “shocking” and pledged to boycott any circus or sideshow with performing animals. She also called on the public and fellow councillors to do the same.
“Animal welfare is so much more important that a couple of thousand pounds - that hardly covers my rates.”
Lucy Hayreh, of RSPCA Walsall, said: “Touring circuses cannot provide sufficient space and appropriate conditions to guarantee the physical and mental well-being of most performing animals.”
By Lyndsey Hunt
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