|
|
|
|
|
|
News & Goings On
|
|
|
|
|
|
//
critterscrisis.txt
16th
January
2004
Cotwall End Crisis?
Cotwall End Valley
What are the Council's Plans?
|
The future of local nature centre
Critters Farm, and with it that of one of the last remaining
green areas of our community, has been thrown into question once again with the news that Dudley Council has decided
not to support the project with additional funding.
Dawn Laycock, who took over the lease of the 15 acre site from the Council in April 2000,
has had her request for an increase of £13,000 (taking the total investment to £30,000 per year)
rejected and now fears that the centre may have to close.
The Farm's relatively minor financial needs are in stark contrast to the millions of pounds poured into Dudley Zoo by
successive Council adnministrations, and Ms. Laycock believes that Critters offers equal or better value to local people:
"We have a fifty strong weekend kids club and take on a lot of learning disabled and college kids during the week"
she told Yampy earlier this week. "I do not know what the council wants with the Cotwall End Site but I do know it
will never be the same again. The site needs more investment than I can give it or a buyer with more money -
I've been doing it for love by blood sweat and tears!"
There is speculation that, were the site to return to Council ownership, a housing development at the top end of
the fields opposite Moden Hill would soon be on the agenda.
Dawn asks anyone who can help save the site and the work it does to contact her at the farm.
newsdesk@yampy.co.uk.
-->
|
|
|
