'We can't survive this' - Stafford pet shop owners to hold protest over licensing issues that could force them to close up

Five jobs and six current work placements are said to be at risk at Stafford Aquatics in Gaolgate Street due to problems with the processing of licence renewal documents by the council's licensing team.

The owner of the aquatics and exotic animals shop, Miles Evans, explained that they originally posted their pet shop licence renewal forms in June but they 'were not received'. When the council came to notify them of it in September, the business owners asked for a four-week extension. 

Mr Evans continued: "We then hand-delivered the required paperwork to the civic centre, but due to a confusion with the extension start date, our application was actually a day late and they said our current licence which we had held for six years had expired. 

"Now the council is insisting that we start a new application process from scratch and the licence won't be issued until mid-January, which means that we can't sell livestock for three months and we simply won't survive that."

The team of five staff, most of whom have been with the business since it opened in 2018, have knowledge to work with the flora and fauna of the aquatics, reptile and other animals and stock sold in the shop which is the only such supplier of reptiles and birds in a 10-mile radius of the town.

The shop serves an estimated base of up to 20,000 customers in the local area, meaning the loss of their business would be 'another blow' to the town as well as its employees. 

It also provides 15 work placements a year to students at Stafford College. 

Charley Emery-Pearson, store manager and mum of three, said: "The last six years have been so challenging, with the Covid lockdowns, then energy bills quadrupling two years ago and then the roadworks on Chell Road at the north end of the town reduced footfall significantly for the last 12 months. But we've battled on, with the support of loyal customers and dedicated staff. But this is our biggest threat yet and I'm fearful that we won't survive it."

Now, the pet shop is calling on its customers to join in a peaceful protest and help in its battle for survival by 'forcing the council to rethink' on the timing of the decision.

Miles added: "Although we are in regular communication with the council to try to bring the date forward, we haven't had much luck. We've now set up an online petition and are arranging a peaceful protest outside the council buildings on November 11 at 1pm. 

"If we can get people to support this, I hope we may have some chance of survival. Meanwhile, we are still open for business on our dry goods, and we urge customers to support us during this difficult period."

Will Conaghan, from Stafford Borough Council, said: "A great deal has been done to help Stafford Aquatics as we wish to support all local businesses. We sent Stafford Aquatics a renewal notice in May - four months before the licence renewal date. They were also reminded in August. And we reminded them again just before that licence expiry date of September 21.

"Following that email we spoke with the business and to help them out agreed to extend the date for the council receiving the application to October 16. After that date it would have to be treated as a new application. But in all that time no application or application payment was received for the renewal of the licence. 

"So, as it was not renewed by that extended date it became a new application. This requires an inspection to be carried out to ensure the business has the appropriate standards regarding the welfare of the animals at the premises. That inspection will be carried out by Staffordshire County Council Animal Health team and until that is done we cannot grant a licence. We have been liaising with the county council to see if that can be undertaken as soon as possible.”