A DECISION by Powys County Council to ban the use of wild animals in circuses on council-owned land in the county has been welcomed by local Assembly Member, Russell George.

The Montgomeryshire AM has long supported a ban on the use of wild animals in circuses, calling for the Welsh Government to tackle the hugely damaging practice.

The motion before Powys County Council was sponsored by Cllr Amanda Jenner (Trewern) and seconded by Cllr Lucy Roberts (Llandrinio) and earned universal support from county councillors with the exception of one objection.

It will now mean that circuses using non domestic and/or wild animals will be prohibited from hiring any Powys County Council owned land and that Powys Council’s properties and services (including schools, libraries, community/youth areas) will be prevented from advertising circuses using non-domestic and/ or wild animals. Powys County Council has also resolved to lobby the Welsh Government to commit to banning the use of wild animals in circuses in Wales, by bringing forward the proposed legislative ban at its earliest opportunity.

A YouGov poll commissioned by RSPCA Cymru found that 74 per cent of the public in Wales support a ban on wild animals performing in circuses in Wales and the RSPCA presented a petition with over 9,000 signatures to the National Assembly for Wales in 2015.

Mr George and Cllr Jenner also conducted a public consultation on the proposed ban on the use of wild animals in circuses during the summer at various summer shows throughout Montgomeryshire, attracting widespread public support.

Following the county council's decision, Mr George said: "I would like to congratulate Cllr Jenner and Cllr Roberts for bringing forward this motion, which sends a clear message that there is little public support for these types of circuses and their shows have no place here in Powys whatsoever. I now firmly believe that the use of wild animals in circuses must be banned across the whole of Wales.

"Earlier this year, the Welsh Government confirmed that they would be 'exploring opportunities to bring forward legislation to ban the use of wild animals in circuses in Wales' but this needs to happen now and without delay.

There are currently no legal barriers to prohibit the use of wild animals in circuses in Wales. The local authorities that have policies to ban wild animals in circuses apply to public land in their area. However, if a private landowner wishes to rent/allow their land to be used, then it can’t be prevented unless this is legislated for.

Cllr Jenner added: “I am so pleased that this motion was passed by Powys County Council. It endorses the public view that animal welfare is much more important than entertainment. Now such circuses will not be able to rent Powys Council’s land and Schools and other Council services will not allow promotion materials to be put up in Council buildings or passed on to residents and children.

"The passing of this motion sends a clear message to the Welsh Government that they need to commit to banning the use of wild animals in circuses in Wales altogether and bring forward the proposed legislative ban on all land, public and private, as soon as possible.”