LARGS ZOO. - Memories of Frank Roches seafront zoo Remarkable as it may seem, forty years ago, Largs used to have its own zoo on the esplanade with an assortment of different animals greeting tourists and visitors. Frank Roche provided the popular and fondly remembered animal home but the matter did cause some consternation with the authorities. A report in the Largs and Millport Weekly News on 13 October 1967 stated: Can another site be found for the miniature zoo at Largs? This was the topic discussed by Largs Town Council on Monday when they invited Mr Frank Roche to the meeting. The Council have already decided to knock down the bathing station, in part of which Mr Roche has a zoo. He has been given notice to quit and the notice expires next May. Provost White said that all members were sympathetic towards him. They had agreed to give consideration to any alternative sites. But no acceptable proposals were put forward. Mr Roche suggested that it might give more time to look into the matter if the Council allowed him to continue using the zoo in the bathing station building until the end of the next summer. There was no reaction to this suggestion. Bailie Willie Donald suggested the childrens corner at Aubery Crescent might be a suitable place for a zoo and an aquarium. Treasurer Dan Doris said they knew his first suggestion was to keep the zoo where it was. He suggested as an alternative Barrfields Rose Garden. - where cages could be put around the wall and some of the flowers retained. The Treasurers idea was that the burgh set up the zoo and Mr Roche be asked to run it for them. Mr Roche said he did not have the funds to build a new zoo and ruled out Aubery Crecent as it would not get enough visitors to wash its face.The rose garden had decided possibilities but it could not be an open-air zoo. In the open-air they could only exhibit animals indigenous to the country and people would not pay to see these. The zoo had a monkey that got loose inside the small building on occasions and would steal various items, while the facility also hosted various birds. Mr Roche had initially asked for a seven year lease at the bathing station site, and offered to plough back his profits over the following years as the site was only beginning to pay its way. The meeting ended with Mr Roche pressing the council as to whether they wanted a zoo in Largs or not, but the council would not be drawn on the matter, as the Provost stated: You cannot take anything. The Town Council wants a lot of things for Largs. Mr Roche won his extension until a cut off point of September 1968. - See more at:
Posted on: Thu, 21 Aug 2014 14:53:18 +0000
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