A PLANNING inspector will decide if a leading South Lakeland attraction is allowed to keep a group of three cheetahs.

Predator Experience was refused retrospective planning permission for an enclosure at Ayside, near Grange-over-Sands, by the Lake District National Park Authority in December.

The planning authority turned down the application not on grounds of safety but because of the impact the housing has on the landscape.

But owners Dee and Daniel Ashman disagree and have appealed the decision, which will now be heard on September 9.

In a bid to convince the inspector of the merits of giving the cheetahs a new home in UK, the Ashman's have launched a petition to garner support for their cause which has attracted more than 200 signatures so far.

"The response has been brilliant so far," said Dee. "It is wonderful that many of the people actually care about the cheetahs and conservation. Some have been on experiences with us and understand what we are trying to do. It is great to have so much support because it gives us the feeling that we are doing something right."

In the petition, Dee and Daniel, who in the meantime are keeping the cheetahs under a private Dangerous Wild Animal Act, said: "This decision was arrived at despite huge efforts with tree planting for mitigation, and despite clearing an unsightly storage yard, which was the lands previous use. The storage yard would have remained permanently, if the land had not been purchased by Predator Experience.

"It would be disastrous if the enclosure had to be taken down, and the cheetahs are forced to be moved on. These cheetahs were domestically bred within the UK, but were destined for an uncertain future, they arrived to us via the Czech Republic.

"There are fears that valuable bloodstock and their value to conservation would be lost, so we had to get them here quick."

It adds: "Wild cheetahs have suffered a 90 per cent decrease in population since the early 19th century due to poaching, illegal trade and habitat loss and need our help. With your support for our planning appeal we can help to make a positive contribution towards wild cheetahs though education, and directly funding cheetah conservation.

"Sadly at this moment in time, wild population of many endangered species relies, on ensuring there is a domestic population for the future. We believe that the issues that surrounds much of our global wildlife today is in our hands, as our own very existence depends on sustainable co-existence."