DENBIGH, Clarendon – The Clarendon Parish Council wants to meet with the president of the Jamaica Agricultural Society, Senator Norman Grant, to discuss the pending closure of the Denbigh Zoo and Attractions Ltd in the parish.

The company is located on JAS property, on the Denbigh Agricultural Show grounds along the outskirts of May Pen.

Selby Woollery, who operates the attraction, asked the council to intervene after the JAS served him an eviction notice that becomes effective on July 10, 2005. According to Woollery, he is being evicted because he cannot live up to the terms of his $140,000 per month lease.

At Thursday’s monthly council meeting, the mayor of May Pen, Councillor Milton Brown, said every effort must be made to ensure that the zoo remains open, especially with recently announced plans for the Clarendon Express, a tourist attraction based on a train ride that will pass through the area where the zoo is located.

The mayor suggested that a team of councillors meet with Woollery, and then discuss the issue with the JAS president.

Like the mayor, the councillor for the York Town Division, Upell Purcell, also expressed concern about the impact the closure of the zoo would have on the community, especially the children.

But he suggested that Woollery could consider merely incorporating his company into the Denbigh Show, instead of renting or leasing the property.