A decision whether to give a north wildlife park a new licence has been deferred.
Councillors had been due to consider today whether or not to grant the Black Isle Country Park a public entertainment licence to operate as a petting zoo.
But the application has been pulled from the meeting of Highland Council’s licensing committee for talks between officers and the park’s owners.
A council spokeswoman said: “The item has been deferred until the meeting on November 1 to give more time for further discussions to take place between our environmental health officers and the applicant.”
The park declined to comment when contacted yesterday.
The attraction – previously known as the Black Isle Wildlife Park – is applying for a new licence after it was stripped of its zoo licence amid concerns about conditions and animal welfare.
A public entertainment licence would allow the park to continue as a farm park with domestic species.
The facility was inspected by environmental health staff and a Scottish Government-appointed vet last month.
An outstanding objection was lodged by the council’s environmental health department with a report due to go to the committee, before further discussions were agreed.
Outstanding issues included the re-homing of animals subject to zoo controls, welfare of animals remaining on display and general maintenance of enclosures and public areas.
Objections to the application were also lodged by two members of the public, while letters of support were received from volunteers and friends of the park.
The original zoo closure direction came after a site visit by a specialist vet.
