A ROW has broken out over building work in Blackwell with the owner of an animal sanctuary claiming it has had a detrimental effect on her animals and land and the owner of the site denying he or the builders have done anything wrong.
Lyn Tudor, from Hillfields Animal Sanctuary, in Greenhill, said since work began on the Wadderton Conference Centre extensions, rubbish had been blowing over onto her lands and one of the goats had ingested it leaving her with a £400 vet bill.
She also claimed diggers on the site had disturbed badger setts causing them to run riot around the grounds, damaging a shed and slaughtering her chickens.
Ms Tudor raised concerns with Bromsgrove District Council while the development was under consideration and said there should be fence to protect the animals.
The application was approved on July 2 and work began on the site last month.
“I’m just at a loss of what to do,” she said. “I can’t afford to put a fence up myself and don’t see why I should have to.
“I’m just devastated. I have considered selling up but I have been here for more than 30 years and don’t see think I should have to.”
Since the work started Ms Tudor has kept her animals inside, which has caused one of her ponies, who has asthma to get very ill.
Tav Biran, the owner of the development, said: “I sympathise with Ms Tudor and we have been through all the appropriate channels.
“I bought the property a year and a half ago but work was delayed by five months while we paid an extra £10,000 to commission further reports to ensure we acted well within the guidelines set out in the application.
“I even offered to put up a fence for Ms Tudor but she had refused as she had wanted to put one up herself.
“Ms Tudor has never approached me directly with regards to all her grievances.
“This is the first time I have heard about rubbish from the site causing one of her animals to being sick.
“Although there is not proof the rubbish came from out site nor have I seen a vets bill, as a good will gesture I will pay the £400.”
A district council spokesperson said: “Boundary disciplines are a civil matter and need to be resolved between both parties.
“The ecology issues raised were duly considered as part of the decision making process and therefore there has been no breach of planning policy.”
