Petition started against animal rehoming plans
BBCA petition has been started against plans to rehome birds and guinea pigs from a Berkshire park.
The Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead (RBWM) said it had concerns about the state of Pets Corner on Ray Mill Island, at Boulter's Lock near Maidenhead, and animal welfare was its "overriding priority".
The free, council-owned facility features guinea pigs, cockatiels and canaries.
Petition organiser Samuel Harris said the attraction had been "a familiar part of visits to the island and riverside for generations of Maidenhead families".
He said while animal welfare "must come first" there should be a conversation with the community, so locals could preserve "an important asset".
Park visitor Sue Hulbert, 66, said the potential closure was "terrible news".
"I brought my granddaughter for the first time and I'm very impressed with it, for her to see the way they're kept - absolutely incredibly clean."
She said she would be "very concerned" about the animals being moved from their long-standing location.
"You will upset them, they will get stressed out."
Visitor Lisa Peters said "a lot of work" had gone into the park in recent years.
"A few years ago this place went downhill so much that I cried, " she said.
"I'm now wandering here with my puppy every day, full of glee."
The petition calls for the council to publish the welfare evidence behind the rehoming decision and review alternatives.
In a statement the council said: "As standards continue to evolve, it's right to explore new homes for the animals - where they can benefit from the space, facilities and environment that best support their long-term wellbeing.
"Pets Corner will remain open during the transition, and residents will continue to be able to visit the animals while plans are progressed."