Wirral Council secret report recommends buying New Ferry Butterfly Park

Jan 7 2010 by Liam Murphy, Liverpool Echo

A SECRET council report is recommending officials use compulsory purchase powers to buy a butterfly park threatened with closure.

The New Ferry Butterfly Park was told it must shut by the end of this month by Ellesmere Port-based waste disposal company Brock plc, which owns the land.

Since the closure threat was announced, thousands of people have signed petitions in support of the park.

Local councillor Steve Niblock is due to hand in additional signatures on the petition to the meeting of Wirral council’s ruling cabinet next week.

The cabinet is due to make a decision based on the report suggesting a CPO when it meets on Thursday, January 14.

If the council was to buy the land, it would clear the way for the park to remain open.

Cllr Niblock, who has seen the council report, said: “It has been a fantastic response to the petition, with more than 3,000 signatures in support of the park. Clearly the report has taken into account the petition which calls on the authority to do all it can.

“We now await the cabinet’s decision on the compulsory purchase order.”