Planning Application Refused – October 9th
In August 2022 we purchased a property at Ashley Heath with the hope of moving our small Sanctuary on Magna Road, Wimborne, into a bigger permanent home. The land would have given us sufficient space to exercise our dogs and possibly take in other animals such as horses, donkeys, goats and hens.
After an initial pre application in March 2023, a revised Planning Application was submitted to Dorset Council in October 2023 which included all the advice given to us by the planning officer. It has taken over twelve months of jumping through various hoops, searches and surveys which in total have cost over £31000, for the application to be refused today.
We are not in a position to justifiably spend any more of the Charity’s money on an Appeal. As a result we are left juggling two properties with our only option left to be the sale of the Ashley Heath Site. In the current market this will put considerable strain on the Charity’s resources, whilst we find a purchaser.
This year to the end of September, we have taken about 600 requests to take in unwanted dogs and since the beginning of October have had a further 20 requests. Like most rescues nationwide we are full and the requests are coming from further afield as a consequence. The need is there but we are at a loss now, as to how to help.