120,000 People Back Brentwood Animal Sanctuary

26 January 2015, 08:44 | Updated: 26 January 2015, 09:36

Hopefield

A campaign to save an animal sanctuary in Brentwood from being re-developed into homes has been backed by more than 120,000 people, including Leona Lewis, Pixie Lott and Kelly Clarkson.

Hopefield Animal Sanctuary has been listed as one potential site for development as Brentwood Council looks to address its housing shortage.

The sanctuary, which is home to around 400 animals, has been on it's current site on Sawyers Hall Farm for around 30 years but could now be under threat. The 56 acre site is owned by Tesco and rented to the sanctuary for a peppercorn rate.

Tesco has offered the council first refusal of the site as a possible location for new homes.

A petition set up to help save the sanctuary has been signed by more than 120,000 in just three weeks, while stars such as Leona Lewis, Pixie Lott and Kelly Clarkson have tweeted their support.

Hopefield support Kelly ClarksonHopefield support Leona LewisHopefield Support Pixie Lott

Manager of the sanctuary, Lianne Angliss, told Heart what they are hoping to achieve: "Ask Brentwood Council to change the use of land from "Agricultural" to "Recreation and Leisure" so we are a going concern and are part of the community not just sitting on land that's not being used.

"It's not asking them to build houses here it would just make it very hard."

Ms Angliss said they understand the council's need to find new sites for housing and are looking at alternative sites if the centre cannot be saved.

She said, however, if no site could be found it would have a major impact on some of the animals: "The worst case scenario would be trying to re-home the animals. A lot of them wouldn't find homes at all. They're old, they're ill, some of them have got long-term conditions that would just make it impossible."

Leader of Brentwood Council, Councillor Barry Aspinall, said: "The council's position is very clear: we support the animal sanctuary to the nth degree. We would like to help them expand their situation.

"89% of our borough is in the green belt. There is pressure on the council to identify 6,500 houses, lots of retail and employment areas and everyone looks at the brownfield sites first."

Cllr Aspinall also said he has been impressed by the number of people backing the campaign: "That's double the amount of people who live in Brentwood and we are going to go forward jointly to promote the animal sanctuary and do everything we can to make their future secure."

A meeting will take place in February where a revised, shortened list of possible sites for housing will be announced. If the sanctuary is left off that list, its future could well be secure.