Ryedale reptile man's bid for sanctuary (From Gazette & Herald)

Ryedale reptile man's bid for sanctuary

A REPTILE fanatic from Ryedale has launched a fresh bid to find a site for his sanctuary.

John Cheetham wants to build a resting place for homeless reptiles including snakes and lizards.

To pay for the upkeep of the sanctuary he wants to allow in paying visitors - something he says could potentially draw tourists into the area.

A site in the town he chose was rejected last year by Ryedale District Council planners because the increased traffic at the access to his chosen site would have been unacceptable.

The access to the site was considered insufficient to deal with the volume of traffic which would have been created.

Since then John's reptiles have been on loan to zoos and other sanctuaries across the UK but he is keen to bring them to Pickering and give them a permanent home.

And as time has passed John has taken on more abandoned reptiles and is determined to find them a permanent home in Ryedale.

"The search is still on for a suitable site and we're very keen to find one," he said.

"I have decided we won't be submitting any more planning applications until we have found a suitable site.

"Ideally that would be a former garden centre in a quiet part of the town where the animals won't be disturbed.

"It will need to be around three acres because we'll need half an acre for parking and half an acre for our giant tortoise to roam

"I'd appreciate any advice or help from someone with some suitable land or with any suggestions."

When he submitted his last application some residents around the old site were concerned about being confronted by escaped snakes and crocodiles.

But John is keen to put residents' minds to rest.

"When we do build it it'll be very secure and there will be no danger of anything escaping," he said.

Updated: 08:59 Friday, April 05, 2002