Bacup petting farm boss ‘played with lives’

12:00pm Friday 13th July 2012 in Bacup Photograph of the Author By Peter Magill, Chief reporter

PROSECUTED Terry Bork at his petting farm, Animal Quackers, in Bacup PROSECUTED Terry Bork at his petting farm, Animal Quackers, in Bacup

A PETTING farm owner has admitted a series of health and safety offences relating to an E-Coli risk at his Bacup attraction.

Terry Bork, 49, who runs Animal Quackers, and Rossendale Council have been at loggerheads for several months over the Huttock Top Farm venture.

And, almost a fortnight ago, the authority secured a 28-day closure order against the petting farm, on public health grounds.

And, at Reedley Magistrates’ Court, Mr Bork pleaded guilty to four offences, between 2009 and 2011, concerning adequate controls against the potentially-deadly condition.

Prosecutors said Bork had ‘played with the lives of children’ by welcoming visitors to the farm when he knew that he was not complying with basic guidance given to him by council officers.

Before the case, Mr Bork told the Lancashire Telegraph he felt he had been ‘victimised’ by the authorities, and had carried out most of the improvements deemed necessary for him to re-open.

Later the council’s business director Stuart Sugarman said the authority had taken the decision to prosecute the farm ‘with a sad heart’ after repeated attempts to work with Mr Bork at the premises.

He added: “The decision to take action against Mr Bork wasn’t taken lightly and followed his failure to respond to numerous advice notices issued over the three years.

“We felt we had no other course of action but to proceed with enforcement, and prosecution, to protect members of the public from a potential E-Coli outbreak.”

Bork, who was bailed for pre-sentence reports, had carried out improvements, but it may have been ‘too little, too late’, the court heard.

Comments(13)

spendmymoneywisely says...
3:01pm Fri 13 Jul 12

I don't know Mr Bork but I do know how popular his farm was also the innumerable old folk who have managed to reach a ripe old age despite being brought up on farms & not washing their hands every 20 seconds. I fully understand the devastating effects of some animal borne diseases but cannot help feeling that sometimes legislation 'goes overboard' at times. I suppose everyone is frightened of being sued. Thank goodness the parents of people like David Attenborough had a different approach to him scrabbling around in mud & sh....t..

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darwenTower says...
4:20pm Fri 13 Jul 12

I agree with the above.

I also wonder if our obsession with avoiding germs is making us more vulnerable when we do encounter them.

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Stuart Farquar says...
5:39pm Fri 13 Jul 12

darwenTower wrote:
I agree with the above. I also wonder if our obsession with avoiding germs is making us more vulnerable when we do encounter them.
Spot on ! They are doing all this to make us all sick

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HelmshoreBoy says...
5:58pm Fri 13 Jul 12

Whatever your sympathies are with "Farmer Terry" and his petting farm, it is quite clear that for the last two or three years he has been playing the game with the Council. He has blatantly failed to heed their advice on several instances, despite a number of warnings from the health inspectors. See Rossendale Free Press for a fuller version and draw your own conclusions.

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her from here says...
5:59pm Fri 13 Jul 12

Leave him alone
lots of kids played on farms walked in fields where livestock were.Everybody knew someone with a Grandad that had a hen pen where you would stroke the chickens.
You have more chance of catching something from a take away. It's pathetic

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useyourhead says...
6:22pm Fri 13 Jul 12

darwenTower wrote:
I agree with the above.

I also wonder if our obsession with avoiding germs is making us more vulnerable when we do encounter them.
A lot of asthma and skin disorders are increasing because of over zealous sterilizing of baby equipment and toys etc. you can't build a tolerance to something unless you are exposed to it!
-
A kid needs to get mucky - simple as that!

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OSTING says...
6:24pm Fri 13 Jul 12

i worked on farms from an early age bringing in cows for milking leading cart horses around using pitch forks riding on tractors kid these day don't know how to deal with danger
they don't get the chance
they can't even take themselves to school if your body dos'nt
get to fight germs the immune system is weakend or stops working against the least of germs and infections.

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Stuart Farquar says...
6:39pm Fri 13 Jul 12

Mr Bork is a credit to humanity ! Ignore the officials.. they can't destroy your spirit sir... 1984 is here to stay but men like Mr Bork are a true credit to humanity's spirit !!!

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her from here says...
7:39pm Fri 13 Jul 12

Stuart Farquar wrote:
Mr Bork is a credit to humanity ! Ignore the officials.. they can't destroy your spirit sir... 1984 is here to stay but men like Mr Bork are a true credit to humanity's spirit !!!
Spot on

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pdb951 says...
8:43pm Sun 15 Jul 12

Stop this paranoia over germs. We need exposure to germs! Get rid of these so called officers who havce nothing better to do than persecute people who would otherwise be serving the community well.

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Sanfield says...
10:22am Mon 16 Jul 12

Perhaps those of you who are championing Mr Borks farm should take a look up there at the 20 foot hight and 50 foot long heap of animal faeces and rubbish that provides the view for the back gardens of residents of Bankside Lane. No consideration for other residents and in a totally innapropriate place where coaches are unable to park or turn around. If a community farm should exist why not have it in the park like others accross the country do.

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pwitch says...
2:41pm Fri 20 Jul 12

+Unfortunately many council officials, in my experience, have to justify their existence by using the health and safety excuse instead of common sense. I feel sorry for the man involved. I played and helped on a family farm in Stacksteads as a child and the farmer and his family expected visitors to use common sense when handling and dealing with animals, and hand washing was always important, but the facilities were basic in those days during the second world war. I never got ill - today's mollicoddled youngsters are subject to these ridiculous rules and regulations instead of learning common sense.

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pwitch says...
2:41pm Fri 20 Jul 12

+Unfortunately many council officials, in my experience, have to justify their existence by using the health and safety excuse instead of common sense. I feel sorry for the man involved. I played and helped on a family farm in Stacksteads as a child and the farmer and his family expected visitors to use common sense when handling and dealing with animals, and hand washing was always important, but the facilities were basic in those days during the second world war. I never got ill - today's mollicoddled youngsters are subject to these ridiculous rules and regulations instead of learning common sense.

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