COUNCIL CHAOS OVER PARK BAN City leaders forced into U-turn after issuing closure orders to public as fears grow deadly bird flu has arrived in Scotland

(Evening Times Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)BIRD flu chaos came to Glasgow today when city council staff were sent to shut seven city parks to members of the public.

The "precautionary move" came amid a growing scare over bird flu, and the discovery of a dead swan at the city's Richmond Park.

But within hours of the decision by council bosses, they were ordered to think again by the Executive.

The Executive said the parks had to stay open, but restrictions were to be imposed on pond areas.

A council spokesman said: "We are to open the parks, but there will be restrictions in place around ponds. The decision was taken after advice from the Executive."

The chaos began after a meeting of council chiefs this morning, when they decided to close Queen's Park, Richmond Park, Alexandra Park, Hogganfield Park, Victoria Park, Springburn Park and Bingham's Pond.

Officials said the decision was not related to the discovery of the dead swan in Richmond Park. It has now been sent away for testing.

The Glasgow alert came as experts awaited the results of tests on the bird found in Fife which brought bird flu to Scotland.

It has emerged that the swan was found dead more than a week ago at Cellardyke harbour. The results of tests to find out if it was carrying the H5N1 strain of the virus, which can be deadly to humans, are expected today.

A 3km exclusion zone has been set up around the harbour, along with a 10km surveillance zone. Police are manning checkpoints to ensure vehicles containing poultry products don't leave the area.

All west of Scotland councils were considering their options today.

David Roderick of North Lanarkshire Council, said: "At present North Lanarkshire Council is not taking any precautionary measures, however we do have contingencies in place that would cover an event such as an outbreak of the H5N1 avian flu virus.

http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2006/04/07/1550439.htm