The great british circus cancelled their Tuesday 1st May 2012 show as the regular site was too waterlogged to set up. They found an alternate field nearby, down a residential side street.
A letter is being distributed to residents close to the circus encampment on Cork Lane. It reads:-
“Circus advised not to open at Cork Lane site
We are aware of local people’s concerns regarding the circus that has recently relocated from Leicester Road to Cork Lane in Glen Parva.
Blaby District Council has informed circus owners not to open in their current location as the Cork Lane site is not considered a suitable venue and is not licensed to host such an event.
If the event goes ahead this will be treated as an offence under the Licensing Act 2003.
Local agencies including the police, district and parish councils are working together to find a solution to the issue.”
Contact Councillor Bailey of Glen Parva at http://alanbailey.mycouncillor.org.uk/2012/05/02/circus-residents-letter/
"The circus has already turned the land at Cork Lane into a quagmire. If conditions are too atrocious for the public, how are the animals suffering? Considering that this is the circus reported in This Is Leicestershire in 2009 as being filmed beating elephants, the animals are clearly not their first concern. Many councils, mindful of the public distaste for the use of captive performing animals, bar such outdated exhibitions on their land. Why is it continuin in this day and age in Blaby?"
Meanwhile... "Jon Wells, Group Manager for Regulatory Services at Blaby District Council said:
“We are committed to continue to work with all parties to try and identify a suitable alternative location for the circus.
We have written to the owner of the circus to advise him that the Cork Lane location is not considered suitable for a circus event. If the event goes ahead this will be treated as an offence under the Licensing Act 2003 on the basis they knowingly allowed an unlicensed activity to take place”
More at http://alanbailey.mycouncillor.org.uk/2012/05/02/circus-arrives-in-glen-parva/
If visiting this circus, take care - a circus worker assaulted a protester in Nottingham in 2010 and a car was vandalised at the Winterton Showground, Scunthorpe in 2012, as seen on YouTube
 
 Circus defends its use of animalsWednesday, April 15, 2009
Leicester Mercury
Circus bosses have today branded animal campaigners "stupid" for accusing them of cruelty.
Leaders of the Great British Circus, which rolls into Leicester next week, say they would not be allowed to carry on using wild animals if there was any sign the creatures were being neglected or harmed.
However, protesters said it was cruel to force wild animals to perform and to keep them in cages while they are transported, and branded the use of animals in circuses as "archaic nonsense".
This year, the circus is taking performing elephants on tour for the first time in a decade, sparking further anger from charities such as the RSPCA and the Captive Animals' Protection Society (CAPS).
African elephant Sonja and Indian elephants Delhi and Vana Mana will be entertaining the public alongside white tiger Tiara, also new this year, as well as lions, tigers, camels, llamas, horses, ponies and reindeer.
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Ringmaster Martin Lacey today defended his decision to use animals.
He said: "The elephants were inspected before they got here and once they were here as well.
"At the moment we're in Grimsby, and animal welfare and health and safety here are satisfied.
"Are the RSPCA and all these other charities suggesting that Government officials don't know what they're talking about?
"I wouldn't get involved in anything that's cruel to animals."
Mr Lacey said the circus, which started touring the country in February, had been very well received, with almost 10,000 people seeing the show in its opening fortnight.
He said: "We haven't had one complaint. That many people would not come and see us and allow us to be cruel to animals without complaining. These charities are making themselves look extremely stupid."
The circus starts in Leicester on Tuesday and runs until May 10.
Campaigners from Leicester Animal Concern have been asking businesses to remove posters advertising the circus from windows.
Spokesman Phil Hudson said: "Whether they've got elephants, tigers, llamas or whatever, it doesn't matter – they are all wild animals.
"They shouldn't be tied up like they are, and they have to be because you can't just let them wander off.
"The whole idea – that they think there's a value in showing animals off for entertainment – it's archaic nonsense."
National organisations are also urging people to boycott the event.
Craig Redmond, CAPS campaigns director, said: "As if it is not bad enough to subject lions, tigers, zebras, reindeer and other animals to the confinement and restrictions of a travelling circus, we now see elephants being imported.
"Numerous animal experts have condemned the use of animals in circuses and the world's leading elephant experts oppose the inclusion of elephants in the shows, too."
Dr Rob Atkinson, head of the RSPCA's wildlife department, said: "This is a body blow for animal welfare in this country. I am sure this will shock and sadden the public.
"Asking these majestic animals to behave in unnatural ways in the name of entertainment is a disgrace – a disgrace which is banned in several other European countries."
Will Travers, spokesman for the Born Free Foundation, said: "As predicted, Government paralysis over the issue of wild animals in circuses has opened the floodgates and will subject more wild animals to life on the road."
Nottingham campaign against Great British Circus (including artwork for placards) at: http://www.veggies.org.uk/nar/circus.htm
Captive Animals Protection Society -:- Animal Defenders
Keep track of the Great British Circus at the circus tour archive.
Circus Campaign Info
http://www.veggies.org.uk/ar/circus
Postcode: LE29TG . Mapping websites: http://maps.google.co.uk . http://www.streetmap.co.uk . http://www.multimap.com (photo)
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The great british circus cancelled recent shows as the site is waterlogged. If conditions are too atrocious for the public, how are the animals suffering? 