Animal sanctuary to appeal council decision to refuse application to keep lemurs

The high-profile founder of a private animal sanctuary is appealing against a decision by Uttlesford District Council to refuse her application to keep Ring Tail lemurs.

Jodie Marsh, a former model, applied for a licence for the keeping of eight Ring Tailed Lemurs at Fripps Farm in Lindsell, Essex, under the provisions of the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976.

However, Uttlesford District Council rejected the application at a licencing and environmental health committee meeting in July – citing concerns about the approach of Ms Marsh in relation to the “control and management of the proposed animals”.

Fripps Farm Animal Rescue is home to over 250 animals, including cows, llamas, horses and reptiles.

Committee members heard that Ms Marsh had taken a baby meerkat she was hand-rearing to a pub after stating that the animal could not be left alone.

Further, Ms Marsh confirmed that she had taken an owl to the pub when she was driving home, after collecting it from a sanctuary.

In its decision notice, the committee concluded: “The panel has carefully considered the question as to whether the applicant is a suitable person to hold a licence under the Act.

“[…] The panel are concerned that the incident with the Meerkat highlighted that the applicant was prepared to undertake significant work to support its development, however there were aspects whereby the impact of having to undertake this work were not conducive to her wider life this led to her making the decision to take the animal to the pub on at least two occasions. The panel was not convinced by her approach or the responses which were given.”

The committee added: “The panel drew similar inferences from the incident related to the Owl which was also taken to the pub as Ms Marsh was driving home. Whilst the panel understands that she gave an explanation the panel did not feel that this was adequate or reflective of what is appropriate.”

According to the BBC, Ms Marsh is now appealing the council’s decision to refuse her application.

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting service, she contended that the council “didn’t stick to the requirements of the licence” and took “irrelevant factors” into account.

Uttlesford District Council declined to comment.

Lottie Winson