Can I call this a victory?

Here follows a Council press release -

New home for Chalkwell Park’s peacocks
 

Friday 23 February 2018

Chalkwell Park’s peacocks are to be rehoused to a 24-acre private estate.

The birds, which have been at the park for many years, will be rehomed this weekend.

Cllr Ann Holland, Executive Member for Culture, Tourism and The Economy, said: “I regularly receive correspondence from local people who feel their current accommodation at the park is not large enough.

“While we have had bird experts check the premises and confirm that the accommodation is ample for the birds, I have listened to local people’s feelings and accepted an offer for them to go to a private home where they will join other peafowl.

“While many people will be sad to see the peacocks go, we can all take comfort that they are moving to a bigger home where they will have plenty of room to spread their wings and roam freely.”

PRESS RELEASE: Peafowl in Chalkwell Park

Earlier this year Cllr Julian Ware-Lane (Southend-on-Sea, Milton ward) raised the issue of the four adult peafowl caged in Chalkwell Park, Westcliff-on-Sea. He questioned the suitability of their accommodation and wanted them re-housed. (http://awordfromwier.blogspot.co.uk/2017/03/the-welfare-of-chalkwell-park-peacocks.html)

Since then Cllr Ware-Lane has had a number of people contact him on this issue, all wanting the animal cruelty he exposed to end, and a new home to be found for these birds.

With the support of Cllr Charles Willis, Cllr Ware-Lane has sent a Motion for Full Council to consider.

“Animal cruelty should not be a party political issue, and I am hoping that the Motion will attract support right across the Council Chamber” Cllr Ware-Lane said.

Cllr Willis added: “I am delighted to support this motion. I have been a long-standing advocate for animal rights”

This is the Motion to Full Council. It is proposed by Cllr Julian Ware-Lane (Labour, Milton), and seconded by Cllr Charles Willis (Labour, Westborough).

There are a number of peafowl caged at Chalkwell Park. These large birds are usually seen roaming free on large estates and zoological gardens, and I cannot recall another example where these birds are caged.

The cage at Chalkwell Park is not nearly large enough, and as the photo shows, when the peacock displays his magnificent plumage there really is barely enough room for him to do so. These birds roam large estates and parks normally; there is no room for flight at all, and these birds can fly.

Aside from the smallness of their present enclosure, this is a sparsely decorated cage that is often dirty, and certainly gives every impression of neglect. These birds are often tormented by visitors and their pets, as if them being caged gives permission to this poor behaviour.

Earlier this summer two chicks were hatched. The peahen was trying to protect them, a difficult job in a small enclosure. One was killed by its sibling. The bowls for feeding and drinking are designed for adult birds, and are too high for chicks; how were the chicks meant to feed and drink?

A resident informed the Council about the chicks, and the dead one was removed. However, since the Council were unaware up to that point that there were chicks then clearly accusations of neglect are appropriate.

This cage is the last vestige of the menagerie that once housed many animals such as bears and chimpanzees. Nowadays this would not be allowed.  This is a throwback to an era when animals were not treated with respect. That peafowl are still caged is a disgrace to the town, a town that prides itself as being cultured.

Motion to Council:

We call upon the Council to uphold the highest standards with regards to animal rights.

To this end we want the four peafowl housed in the Chalkwell Park menagerie to be moved to somewhere more suitable.

There has been offers of new homes, and we call upon the Council to fully investigate these.

We urge the Council to expedite a move to a more humane home for the peafowl with utmost speed to end this example of animal cruelty.

Labour has a good record on animal rights, and has to go further

Animal rights is an issue that is of the highest order of importance for some voters, admittedly a small minority. However, my experience suggests that for many, if not most, people it is something that does resonate at some level. Britain is characterised as a nature of animal lovers, and this is what my experience as an activist and candidate also tells me.

Needless cruelty sits ill with the many; whilst the few were pleased with the prospect of a David Cameron Government bringing back fox hunting; Theresa May also wishes for this barbarity to return. I cannot recall anyone contacting me celebrating to prospect of a return to hunting with dogs, yet I did receive a fair amount of correspondence aghast at the idea that we, the UK, could go backwards in respect of animal rights.

The last Labour Government introduced a number of animal welfare issues, which mercifully still remain intact. This includes the ban on hunting with dogs, a law that needs tightening if anything (not repealing). As Labour looks towards the next General Election, and the strong possibility of a return to Government, it will begin to look at what it wants to do with power. In my opinion, animal rights deserves a place in the manifesto, with a commitment to carrying on the good work of the previous Labour Government.

There are a number of reasons beyond the cruelty aspect why animal welfare matters. The environment and our health benefit from a number of initiatives in this area. Whilst Government should not be telling people what to eat, it already does encourage healthier lifestyles. This could be enhanced by pointing out the advantages of reduced meat consumption. Meat-free Mondays, for instance, could be encouraged in schools and the public sector.

The environment is a huge issue, one that we cannot afford to get wrong. There are demonstrable environmental gains from reduced meat consumption, both as regards to greenhouse gases and biodiversity.

We should also look at what cruel sports remain in the UK. An obvious example is game bird shooting. Killing just for the thrill of it belongs in the Middle Ages, not in the twenty-first century.

There are studies that link animal cruelty with abusive behaviour in general. Anything that reduces the latter is a gain for society as a whole.

The laws on vivisection were also tightened by the last Labour Government. These could and should be looked at again. I am not proposing a complete ban on vivisection - the advance of medicine and the consequential improvement in public health trump all in my opinion. However, vivisection must be provably medically important, and not just the cheap or easy option.

We all believe that a Labour Government is vital for the many, and reprehensible for the few. It is also vital for animals and those who love them. Labour has to appeal across a broad canvass of issues, and the protection of innocent animals against the worst excesses of cruelty must be a part of this.

The Welfare of the Chalkwell Park Peacocks

PRESS RELEASE

Ashleigh Condon at the Chalkwell Park peacock enclosure

Labour councillor, Julian Ware-Lane, is concerned for the four peacocks in Chalkwell Park. The peacock and three peahens are caged in what is the last vestige of Chalkwell Park menagerie.

Decades ago Chalkwell Park was home to Lulu the bear, as well as chimpanzees and many other smaller mammals, birds, and reptiles. Now, all that remains are the peafowl - the concerns for animal welfare have seen the other animals re-homed over the years.

Chalkwell Park peacocks

Animal rights campaigner, Cllr Ware-Lane, wants these birds to be re-homed. "Nowadays peafowl are seen wandering the grounds of stately homes and the like, not caged. These enclosures do not seem big enough to me, not for birds of this size."

"I recall visiting the Chalkwell Park menagerie on many occasions as a child, but times have moved on. Now we are much better informed about animal rights. These birds should be free to roam" added Julian.

Ashleigh Condon, Labour LCF Secretary and animal rights campaigner is also concerned for these birds: "I do not believe in caging birds although I understand that those bred in captivity probably ought to stay that way. However, they should have the space suited to their needs. Peacocks are large birds that need a large space to roam. The council has a duty of care for their well-being."


Cllr Ware-Lane is calling for these birds to be re-homed so that they can roam free.