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Petition to save rowdy peacocks




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An online petition has been started to save peacocks that must be moved from their home for being too noisy.

Newark and Sherwood District Council has issued a notice to the owner, who has kept the birds at her home for more than 30 years.

Around 150 people from as far as America, Romania and Western Australia have signed the petition to keep the peacocks at Cotton Mill Farm, Farnsfield.

Their owner Mrs June Gibson (69) has been given notice by the district council to move the peacocks permanently or relocate them to a place where they will cause less disturbance after a neighbour complained about the noise.

The notice also requires that the male peacocks are removed from the site between March and September — the breeding season when the birds are noisiest.

If she does not comply she could face a fine of £5,000.

Mrs Gibson has five peacocks and three peahens. Her daughter, Mrs Gail Salmon, is building a pen for the birds in a field away from the houses.

The online petition was started by Mr Nigel Szczepaniak, of Mansfield, who runs the pharmacy in the village, and Mrs Claire Caldicott (54) of Branston Avenue, Farnsfield.

Mr Szczepaniak said: “I work in this village and get a lot of support from the local community and I think a lot of people feel strongly that the peacocks should not have to be moved.”

Mrs Caldicott said she wanted to start a petition because she was outraged that the peacocks had to be caged or moved.

She said: “I was infuriated that people can come in and decide they don’t like something and change the village.

“I’m thrilled by the response I’ve had to the petition so far.”

Mrs Caldicott said she was shocked the district council could decide the peacocks should go when other residents at Cotton Mill Farm wanted them to stay.

Mrs Caldicott and Mr Szczepaniak have also put a petition form in the Post Office in Main Street, Farnsfield.

Mrs Salmon said the district council had given her mother until the end of the month to move the peacocks to the pen which she and her husband had constructed.

She said she thought it was great that a petition had been started to try and save the peacocks.

Mrs Salmon said: “Everyone who’s spoken to me, even strangers, think it’s disgusting. How can they do this out in the countryside?

“I honestly don’t know if the petition will help but I hope it does.”

Mrs Salmon said she was going to inform the MP for the area, Mr Paddy Tipping, about the peacocks to see if he could help them keep the birds.

Many of the people who have signed the petition have left comments about the peacocks.

Mrs Rosemary Hamilton of Andover, Hampshire wrote: “Living in the country means that sounds are heard that you don’t hear in towns, eg church bells, cocks crowing, geese, chickens, cows, the dawn chorus and peacocks.

“People have to accept this noise together with noisy farm machinery and country smells. Adjustment is called for.”

Mrs Linda Cracknell of Farnsfield wrote: “These beautiful creatures are part of what makes Farnsfield a unique place to live. It is a privilege to have them and they should be celebrated.”

The environmental health reactive team leader at the district council, Mr Jeremy Hutchinson, said: “The issue with the peacocks is a matter for the council, the owners and those who raised the complaint.

“In these cases we can only take on board the views of the two parties directly involved.”

Anyone wishing to sign the petition can do so at www.gopetition.com/petitions/farnsfield-peacocks/signatures.html



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