THE FORMER New Forest Owl Sanctuary at Ringwood which has been closed for almost 18 months is set to soar again after a government inspector upheld a planning appeal by the site's new owners.

Giles Talbot has ploughed about £200,000 into the Crow Lane site since taking over from sanctuary founder Bruce Berry, who quit amid allegations of cruelty and mismanagement in 2003.

Since then Mr Talbot has been battling to refurbish and re-open the complex as Liberty's bird of prey and reptile centre.

His efforts to establish the venture, named after its showpiece bald eagle, were thwarted when New Forest planners took enforcement action earlier this year against unauthorised buildings and use of the site.

Development committee councillors ignored their officers' advice when they refused Mr Talbot's bid for planning permission in July, fearing the original owl sanctuary concept had expanded into a commercial attraction.

At an appeal hearing held over two days last month, Mr Talbot's planning consultants argued the site had been a tourist attraction since the converted piggery first opened as an owl sanctuary in 1988 and no changes were proposed in the scale of the operation.

In his report published yesterday, planning inspector Alan Bragg concluded: "To a large degree the buildings exist and are lawful.

"They have already been adapted for the proposed use and the site is already provided with access, parking and services.''

Mr Bragg ruled that the bird of prey centre was not out of character in the rural location, had operated for 16 years without major problems and benefited the local economy.

Speaking to the Daily Echo after receiving the news, Mr Talbot said: "It is an awful weight off my mind.

"I knew it was a big risk and a gamble but hopefully now the public will be able to come back and see the improvements.

"There is still hard work to be done because it was in such a poor state, but properly run and presented this will be a credit to Ringwood.''