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Charity faces Blackpool ban over shocking pictures
AN animal charity could be banned from having a stall in Blackpool town centre because pictures depicting animal experiments are considered too distressing to the general public.
The shock images are used by Animal Aid as part of its anti-vivisection campaigns aimed at preventing experiments on living creatures.
In the past the group has had a stall in Victoria Street, and last year a street collection raised 158.
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However, a request to hold a flag day this year was turned down by the council in March. The group is asking the public protection committee to reconsider its decision when it meets today.
But the town centre Business Improvement District (BID) is objecting to the application after receiving a number of complaints last year.
BID deputy manager Eileen Ormand said: "We have to look at how people feel when they visit the town no matter how important the cause is. We had a lot of complaints from people and businesses last year, particularly about children being distressed by the pictures.
"In some cases, it led to people keeping away from some shops. We have to listen to businesses and our visitors.
"Perhaps Animal Aid needs to look again at its approach."
In the past the stall has been close to the Disney store which attracts a mainly family clientele with young children.
In a letter to the council, Animal Aid senior fundraising manager Karin Watts says the organisation had a positive response to its collection day last year and did not receive any complaints.
She said: "Last year we raised 158.06 at the street collection in Blackpool, which shows that we have tremendous support from residents of Blackpool.
"The co-ordinator from Blackpool who organises the collections on our behalf was delighted with the positive response, particularly from children, regarding our work."
She added: "Our leaflets have been designed to bring awareness to the public without being offensive or upsetting."
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Weather for Blackpool
Friday 25 May 2012
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Temperature: 13 C to 24 C
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