East Cambridgeshire councillors will decide on a proposed wildlife hospital in Kirtling, crucial for a charity’s expansion and wildlife care
Decision on Wildlife Hospital in East Cambridgeshire Scheduled for January 14
A decision on a proposed wildlife hospital in East Cambridgeshire is set for Wednesday, January 14. The Long Acre Wildlife Hospital is planned for Kirtling, located between Cambridge and Bury St Edmunds. This facility aims to support the Suffolk Hedgehog Hospital in its vital work.
Sue Stubley founded the hospital in 2008 to care for hedgehogs. Since then, the charity has expanded and now provides urgent care for various wildlife. Documents submitted to East Cambridgeshire District Council state that the current base is no longer suitable.
The documents indicate that the charity’s future depends on relocating to a new facility. Initial plans for the wildlife hospital were reviewed last year. Planning officers recommended refusal, but councillors postponed the decision to allow for revisions.
Revised Plans and Community Support
The updated documents claim that the proposals have been thoroughly revised. The plans state that the new facility will offer specialized care with modern facilities, improving animal outcomes significantly.
Currently, the hospital operates from Sue’s private residence. Storage, treatment, and rehabilitation spaces are not clearly separated, and animals are kept close together. Despite staff and volunteer efforts, these conditions are inadequate.
The plans emphasize that without the new building, the hospital cannot operate effectively or meet the growing demand for its services. Over 200 supportive comments have been submitted to the district council, alongside 15 objections.
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Proposed Location | Kirtling, East Cambridgeshire |
| Current Base | Sue’s private residence |
| Year Founded | 2008 |
| Support Comments | 200+ |
| Objections | 15 |
Planning officers acknowledge the improvements but still recommend refusal. Their report concludes that while there is a need for a wildlife hospital, it has not been shown that this location is necessary. The need does not outweigh the harm to the countryside.
Concerns included the use of storage containers, which were deemed unlikely to result in high-quality design. The original number of proposed buildings was considered overdevelopment. The new plans remove additional buildings, leaving only the proposed hospital, which is of higher quality than before.
However, officers noted that the hospital remains a large building, significantly impacting the countryside. They concluded that it would harm the area’s character and appearance due to the scale of development.
The report states that while there is considerable support for the application, objections have come from nearby residents. Letters of support from vets and wildlife professionals have been received, but no material planning considerations outweigh the significant conflicts with policies.
Councillors will review the application and the officers’ report before making a decision at Wednesday’s meeting.
