TOWN hall chiefs aim to keep circuses with wild animals off their land by tightening up restrictions.

Hyndburn Council was recently forced to drop a six-year blanket ban on the circuses following a landmark legal ruling.

But councillors have voted for a set of tough restrictions in a bid to keep the controversial touring circuses out of the borough.

Somerset Council was taken to the Court of Appeal after it banned blood sports. It lost and councils across the country were forced to change their policies.

The Association of Circus Proprietors wrote to Hyndburn saying any ban was against the law.

A spokesman said: "There are clear parallels between the Somerset case and a situation where a council has banned circuses with performing animals because members of a council consider circuses to be repugnant.

"No longer can members of a local authority reach a decision which is based on their personal distaste." Councillor Bill Goldsmith said: "In my opinion, people have tried to blackmail us and, as far as I am concerned, the law is an ass on this occasion."

The new restrictions mean circus owners coming to Hyndburn have to follow a strict code of practice for animal welfare, take into account the views of local residents and stay in line with the policies of Hyndburn Council.

Leader George Slynn said: "We have made the restrictions as tight as we possibly can and still remain within the law.

"Circus owners will have serious trouble negotiating the obstacle course we have set."

Town hall bosses will also have veto over the suitability of the proposed site as well as the right to check the experience and qualifications of the applicant.

The conditions were endorsed at a full meeting of Hyndburn Council.

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