A FLINTSHIRE MP has had their say on the news that Chester Zoo could potentially close its doors.

The Leader reported that bosses from the UK’s top zoo launched the Save Our Zoo campaign on Wednesday and revealed the attraction was "at risk of extinction" and could end the year £24 million in debt as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Alyn and Deeside MP Mark Tami told the Leader how he has written to the English Environment Secretary - Rt Hon George Eustice - on behalf of “angry and upset” constituents about the future of the attraction which is on the doorstep of North Wales.

He said: “Whilst I fully appreciate the steps the Government had to take in tackling the spread of COVID-19, I am at a loss to understand why Chester Zoo is not being allowed to reopen in line with public parks, beaches and ticketed gardens.

“The plans the government also have to allow non-essential shops to reopen in a few weeks but not allow a 128 acre, predominantly outdoor, site to open is very confusing.

“I understand the Zoo have been working closely with the local authority who have given the green light to reopen and I believe the Zoo has already implemented an efficient social distancing policy throughout the site to put the safety of staff and visitors first.”

Mr Tami adds that Chester Zoo is “an invaluable asset to our local economy” by providing hundreds of jobs and say it was “devastating” to hear that Chester Zoo has discussed the possibility of redundancies.

He continued: “The Zoo gets a substantial amount of its income from visitors and has stated it needs to raise more than £1.6m per month to enable it cover the costs of staff, breeding projects, crucial conservation work and care of its animals, including a large amount of endangered species.

“To put Chester Zoo in this position is unjustified and I ask the Government to explain its decision and reconsider its stance as a matter of urgency. The threat to the future of its staff and animals is imminent and needs to be addressed now."