Land near animal rescue centre saved by council

Plymouth City Council said it had stepped in to help secure a piece of land near an animal rescue centre before it went to auction

Land near an animal rescue centre has been saved from auction after Plymouth City Council stepped in.

Claire Sparkes, the manager of Gables, said a strip of land near the rescue centre's entrance was set to go to auction but the council managed to secure the land on behalf of the charity.

"I was overwhelmed and quite lost for words," said Ms Sparkes.

Last year National Highways, which previously owned the strip of land on Merafield Road in Plymouth, put it up for sale.

Claire Sparkes said money raised through the charity fundraiser would be used for the site and legal fees

The council said the land was independently valued on behalf of the council and National Highways and both parties had now agreed to the transaction.

"Plymouth City Council stepped up and have helped us acquire this extra bit of land at no cost to taxpayers," said Ms Sparkes.

"Our supporters are covering the cost of this purchase and no funds will be used by the council."

Ms Sparkes said the charity had raised £10,000 via a fundraiser set up to cover the cost of the auction.

Now that the auction was not going ahead, she said the money would be used for the site and legal fees.

"We reached our target of £10,000," she said.

"The money will go towards the legal costs involved with our solicitors, covering the costs of Plymouth City Council and their legal fees and the cost of purchasing the land."

Claire Sparkes said the strip of land would remain as a nature reserve

Ms Sparkes said she was "incredibly grateful" to the council, local councillors and supporters for donating and "rallying around in the background" to help secure the land during what was a "stressful time" for the charity.

Ms Sparkes said the strip of land would remain as a nature reserve.

"All we're doing is extending our boundary back to the road and keeping the bit of land as a nice little nature reserve for all the trees and all the wildlife as well so it will stay exactly as it is," she said.

Cabinet member responsible for assets Cllr Chris Penberthy said: "The charity does an incredible job and we wanted to remove this unnecessary worry.