WHO’D have thought it would be cheaper to open a zoo in Worcester than a pet shop?

Yet that is the ludicrous situation in the city after councillors opted for a 697 per cent increase in pet shop licence fees.

The decision was taken earlier this year, as reported by your Worcester News, but its real impact only becomes clear from our story today.

Zoe Fletcher is in the process of opening a new pet shop in St John’s, an investment that is costing her tens of thousands of pounds.

She has been astounded by the city council’s demand of more than £1,500 for the licence she needs to run the shop. At the beginning of the year such a licence would have cost just over £200.

In comparison a licence to open a zoo costs about £600 while one that allows you to keep dangerous animals such as crocodiles will set you back less than £300.

Setting up a business in the middle of a recession is tough enough without ridiculous demands like this.

The city council’s priority in the current economic climate should be to do all it can to encourage new businesses. This level of charge is a disincentive to the likes of Mrs Fletcher.

We are pleased the council is to look again at its licence fees following our intervention. It says it is looking for a “common sense” solution to the problem.

That is a welcome move – because common sense appears to have been sadly lacking in the decision-making process on this issue so far.