Planning Permission granted for Animal Centre Re-build
09/06/2008 The RSPCA Coventry and District Branch is delighted that planning permission has now been granted for their Animal Centre Re-build project at Coundon Wedge Drive, Allesley.

The Branch, an independent local charity, has been raising funds since March 2006 to replace worn out kennels, service buildings, small animal accommodation and reception facilities and the committee have finally managed to gather most of the £600,000 needed to make their dream a reality thanks to the support of the RSPCA National Headquarters, other independent RSPCA Branches and local donations. A comprehensive fundraising programme also helped to swell funds and the Branch will fund the remainder from its own reserves, made up largely of legacy income.

Project Manager, Kay Brandist stresses the need for continued support. “It is vitally important that local people continue to offer their support for the period of the actual re-build and beyond as we will still have a large cattery to sustain, veterinary bills to pay and a skeleton kennel service to provide. Our income from re-homing, already drastically reduced, will be cut even further, and we want to ensure that we can continue to save lives for the duration of the project. Ideally, we also need to raise at least a further £25,000 if we are to reach our re-build target and I hope that we can achieve this by attracting further donations, promoting our ‘Safe Haven’ kennel sponsorship scheme and by staging regular fundraising events. Remembering the RSPCA Coventry and District Branch in your will can also make a huge difference to the long-term future of the Centre”

Local builders are encouraged to submit an expression of interest in tendering for the re-build project and the committee hope to go out to tender during the first two weeks of July. Work is expected to commence by 1st September and could take as much as 9 – 12 months to complete, although the Branch hopes to remain open throughout most of this period.

Animal Centre Manager, Glenn Mayoll is delighted that the Branch can now go ahead and provide much needed accommodation for dogs. “We have gradually closed a significant number of kennels during the past two years as their condition became unsuitable for safely housing animals and this has impacted on the number of animals we can help at any one time. I will be relieved when we can operate at full capacity again and really can’t wait until the new Centre is up and running. I would like to remind everyone that we will still have animals needing kind loving new homes during the re-build and we hope that visitors will continue to call and will make allowances for any inconvenience caused as a result of building works on site.”

The Branch would like to thank everyone who has helped to make the Re-build Appeal such a success and enable them to realise their vision before the existing kennels were forced to close down completely. Please visit www.rspca-coventry.org.uk for regular news updates, details of forthcoming events and to view animals available for adoption.