Wildlife expert on mission to fight Common cut (From Daily Echo)

Wildlife expert on mission to fight Common cut

10:37am Tuesday 31st January 2012 in Politics By Patrick Knox, Senior Reporter

TV wildlife personality Chris Packham has launched a battle against cuts after the council revealed it was pulling the plug on a city wildlife facility.

The move will save the council nearly £88,000 each year.

But Mr Packham has dubbed the proposals to start phasing out funding of Hawthorns Urban Wildlife Centre in Southampton Common by next year as “a retrograde step” for the city.

Under budget plans the council will axe front desk staff and replace them with information boards.

A private company would be brought in to run the cafe to rake in cash from wildlife enthusiasts.

However, this has raised fears that if it does not make a profit it would close.

Mr Packham, 50, who presented BBC2’s Springwatch and Autumnwatch, was born in the city.

He aid: “It is such a great resource which I had the privilege of opening in the 1980s. We all know cuts are necessary at this time, but it’s one thing that must not be cut. It is just too important. It is another feather in the city’s crown. To take it away would be a retrograde step.”

But Tory councillor Peter Baillie denied it was about saving money for council coffers. Rather it was about improving the centre, he said. He added: “We don’t think it is working well as it is.

“I fully realise its importance and we have deliberately worked with groups who use the Common so we can come up with a solution for it.”

The centre is on the south-east corner of Southampton Common. Staff are on hand to offer information about Southampton’s wildlife and how the city’s open spaces protect and increase biodiversity.

It already has purpose-built interactive displays about the creatures and plants on the Common.