A WYTHALL animal sanctuary has been made homeless once again as plans to move to Burcot fell through.
Fur and Feathers Animal Sanctuary on Houndsfield Lane were told in February the land it had rented for the past 14 years had been offered up for development.
After an emotional plea on social media, a generous landowner in Burcot, Bromsgrove offered their land for a peppercorn rent.
It was all stations go with the last animals – Porky the pig and horses – due to be moved over to the new site as well as work commencing to erect fencing.
But the sanctuary was dealt another blow when Bromsgrove District Council informed trustees that planning permission would be needed for any work to commence.
Lisa Hunt, founder and trustee of Fur and Feathers Animal Sanctuary said: “We were initially told we could either pay £3500 for pre-planning application advice, or to read-up on guidance available online, which we believed we had done thoroughly.
“We made modifications to our set-up to accommodate the relevant restrictions and regulations, but it would seem we weren’t correct.
“All the structures are wooden, like sheds, and we have been told even the fencing needs planning permission.
“We have done our research and spoken to architects and people with experience within the industry – we had it all planned out.
“Now we have to cancel everything and have been told any future planning applications would likely be refused.”
Lisa said all cats have gone into foster care, but they are still appealing for a temporary home for Porky the pig and the horses.
“The sanctuary has not only saved thousands of animals over the years but was also a major hub of the community.
“We are all heartbroken.”
A spokesperson for BDC said: “When we were made aware that the charity intended to make a new animal sanctuary on land where it would be very unlikely to be permitted, we moved fast to contact them and help them avoid inadvertently getting into legal problems further down the line.
“After a long phone call we were asked to put everything in writing, which we have done.
“We appreciate that it’s not what the charity wanted to hear, and some of the advice was lengthy and technical, but it is what they needed to hear given the significant risks they would be facing if they were to proceed on that land. We would always recommend seeking professional pre-planning advice.
“We continue to wish the sanctuary all the best in their hunt for a new home.”
The charity can be contacted on 07786 592405 or via email at [email protected]
Visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/fur-and-feathers-get-to-their-new-home to donate.
