Since it opened more than 15 years ago Hillside Bird Oasis has become so popular it attracts between 300 and 600 people a week during its summer season.

The council have even installed distinctive brown 'heritage' signs, marking its importance as a jewel in Macclesfield's tourist crown.

Yet the sanctuary, home to penguins, pelicans and flamingoes, has never needed planning permission.

But neighbour Pauline Simcock, who claimed Hillside attracts 2,000 visitors a week at its peak, believes the sanctuary needs its wings clipping because of the amount of visitors who flock to the village in their cars.

"Why has it never needed planning permission when it has turned the house into a cafe and shop?" she asked. "If anyone else did that in their back garden planners would be down on them."

She said her dairy farmer husband struggled to get access in the summer and milk deliveries had been diverted because of parked cars - and claimed all her neighbours in Damson Lane were just as fed up about the parking.

Yesterday 9Tuesday) owner Mark Rubery said they'd had to apply for a zoo licence last year to ensure the safety of visitors and birds, but the sanctuary had never needed planning permission because it had never expanded physically nor did it boast any substantial buildings.

He argued that there had never been any complaints about parking - only gripes from visitors commenting on the lack of signs.

"They use the pub car park," he said. "It's complementary because the visitors use the pub."

Parish council chairman Jamie Macrae said the attraction, which he admitted was a benefit to the area, should now be curbed.

"I've every symapthy with the villagers down there who are suffering from what was a small operation which has grown and grown," he said.

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