SUPPORTERS of Hopefield Animal Sanctuary have pleaded with Brentwood Council not to allow the land to be used for housing.

The land for the sanctuary in Sawyers Hall Lane, Brentwood, has been put forward as potential space for new homes in the borough, as part of a plan which identifies possible areas for housing and recreational development.

Supporters of the sanctuary, which costs £15,000 a month to run, have called on the council to reallocate the land, and an online petition has gathered nearly 7,000 names in support of preserving the sanctuary.

Writing on the Hopefield Facebook page, David Schlaich said: “If this plan goes through, the land will get sold to developers and no more Hopefield.

“Even moving sites is not a realistic option as a lot of our income now comes from visitors and we could not survive without it. Hopefield is fighting this and will continue to do so until the land is safe once more.”

Council leader Councillor Barry Aspinell has played down fears the sanctuary could be lost.

The land is owned by Tesco, and Mr Aspinell has said he will be talking to the retail giant about the land and hopes to safeguard its future.

He said: “There is no threat from this administration in developing that area and or of it facing any sort of threat.

“A vast majority of the land is owned by Tesco and I will be talking to them.

“They said they may be looking to sell it off and we have been approached as the first person to buy it.