Plans for 'urgently needed' wildlife hospital rejected

The plans for a wildlife hospital at Winestead, East Yorkshire were put forward after the charity outgrew its current premises

Plans for an wildlife rehabilitation centre in East Yorkshire have been refused after they were branded "hideous" by a local resident.

Ren's Rescue had proposed a development at Winestead after outgrowing its owners home and garden.

The scheme included a manager’s home as well as a reception and triage centre along with barns and animal enclosures.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council rejected the plan stating some of the features were unnecessary and parts of the site were at risk of flooding.

The founder of the charity, Pamela Maunsell, told the planning committee concerns about traffic and visitor numbers were "misplaced" despite expecting to help more than a 1,000 animals this year.

“There’s an urgent need for a wildlife hospital in the Holderness area", she said.

Concerns were raised about the impact the development would have on historic woodland

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the proposed centre would have been built on land leased by Ren’s Rescue and used since 2019.

A total of 303 comments were lodged in support of the plans while there were 18 objections.

But Richard Kelly, owner of the nearby White Hall country house, said approving the plans would lead to further development in the local countryside.

Mr Kelly said: "This is a front for development and it will open the floodgates. It’ll impact woodland that’s been untouched for hundreds of years.

"This is a hideous development.”

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