Shropshire dogs home protest over poultry unit plan
Plans to build on land near a Shropshire charity that helps to rehome dogs have been met with strong opposition.
Thousands have signed an online petition against proposals to build a bird poultry unit to the north of Hilbrae Pets Hotel on Ellerdine Heath, near Telford.
Marty and Peter Burrell, who run the pets hotel and kennels, said it would block the lane that runs close to the kennels and have a "detrimental" impact on the charity and its ability to care and rehome countless dogs.
They said this lane was where visitors walked the dogs before potentially taking them home and without it they would be forced to walk on 60mph roads.
The couple also added that it would block access to their field, and traffic using the route would cause "distress" to the animals.
In opposition to the application, which is currently under consultation by planners at Telford & Wrekin Council, staff have launched an online petition that has already been signed by 4,000 people.
Mrs Burrell said: "Heal Farms has recently put in a second application, after the first was withdrawn, to build a free range poultry building which will house 64,000 birds on land north of Hilbrae.
"The plans include a lane which has been used to walk the dogs safely and away from traffic and that in turn leads to the enclosed paddock, owned by the kennels, where the dogs can be exercised off the lead.
"If this plan is approved, Hilbrae will lose the use of this lane forcing walkers and visitors to walk on roads with a 60mph limit, which we deem unacceptable and a risk to the public and dogs."
She added: "Should this application be approved it will have a massive detrimental impact on the charity and its ability to care and rehome the countless dogs that come through its doors.
"Therefore for those reasons we call for the council to decline this application.
"The site will be running 24 hours a day. HGVs will be using the roads and the lane at all hours causing disruption and stress to the dogs.
"The roads are not suitable for HGVs being very narrow with poor visibility and accidents are certain to occur."
Hilbrae Pets Hotel has been an established kennels for 40 years.
For the last 25 years it has rescued, rehabilitated and rehomed stray and abandoned dogs.
In 2013 they became a registered charity.
The planning application number is TWC/2014/1116. Sign the petition at change.org and search for Hilbrae Rescue Kennels.
