GILES Talbot, the owner of the former New Forest Owl Sanctuary, has lodged an appeal against the planning decision made last month by New Forest district council.

The council's planning development control committee voted against the application made by Mr Talbot to reopen the sanctuary as a bird of prey and reptile centre.

Now Mr Talbot has taken his bid to re-launch the sanctuary, near Ringwood, as Liberty's Raptor and Reptile Centre, on to the streets in the hope of gaining public support.

Mr Talbot was in the Furlong Centre, in Ringwood, last week with a bald eagle asking people to sign a petition.

He said: "We got 200 names within one hour.

"The local people really want this.

"I don't want to turn it into a theme park. It's just a small centre. The whole thing has been blown out of all proportion."

The planning application was refused last month following criticism made by some councillors that New Forest district council had "lost control" of the former owl sanctuary, letting it grow into "a major tourist attraction" under previous owner Bruce Berry.

Mr Berry also erected new buildings at the site without permission.

Currently, Mr Talbot has about 160 birds of prey and a range of reptiles, which he hopes to show to visitors if the centre gets the go ahead.

He said: "I was fairly confident the first time around.

"But it can't just be turned down because somebody does not like it. There has to be a planning reason."

He plans to be in Christchurch this week with the petition.