As people might have seen, there are problems with the licensing for the Somerset Reindeer Ranch, below you can read the statement from Somerset Reindeer Ranch.
Somerset Reindeer ranch calls for clarity and challenges misleading council claims over licensing
Somerset Reindeer Ranch has accused Somerset Council of making misleading statements that risk defamation and misfeasance, after the Council suggested the business had been operating improperly.
The Ranch says it has always operated under licences issued by Somerset Council and relied entirely on the Council’s advice, inspections, and licensing decisions.
“For more than a decade, Somerset Council licensed us, knowing exactly how we operate,”
said Sarah and David Sutton, owners of Somerset Reindeer Ranch.
“Our Christmas open days, festive evenings, and year-round visitor experiences were fully visible, repeatedly inspected, and never challenged.”
The Suttons strongly reject claims that the Council was unaware that the Ranch was open to the public for more than six days a year.
“That suggestion is simply untrue,”
they said.
“To imply otherwise is misleading and risks defaming a business that has acted in good faith at all times.”
They also dispute the Council’s claim that a “complaint” triggered the issue.
“There was no complaint against Somerset Reindeer Ranch,”
said Sarah and David Sutton.
“An email questioning the Council’s own licensing interpretation has been wrongly described as a complaint. That misrepresentation is damaging and unacceptable.”
The Ranch says the dispute arises from Somerset Council changing its interpretation of complex DEFRA guidance — not from any change in how the Ranch operates.
“If the Council has been licensing us incorrectly for years, that is a failure of the authority, not the licence holder,”
the Suttons said.
“And if the Council is now misapplying a new interpretation, that again is not our fault. Either way, attempting to shift blame onto us raises serious concerns about misfeasance.”
Somerset Reindeer Ranch is now calling on Somerset Council to correct the public record and confirm there has been no finding of wrongdoing, dishonesty, or deliberate non-compliance by the business.
“We have always followed the licences we were given.”
The Suttons said.
“What we will not accept is being unfairly portrayed as acting outside the law when we relied on Somerset Council to get the law right.”