Animal home in urgent plea for cash to buy land

GABLES DOGS & CATS HOME SETS UP NEW FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN

- WILLIAM TELFORD

PLYMOUTH’S oldest animal charity has made a desperate plea for cash after learning a vital patch of land at its entrance is being auctioned off.

Bosses at Gables Dogs & Cats Home said they were “shocked” to learn the land is going under the hammer – as they had wanted to buy it for years.

They said it is vital they buy the land to secure access to the site. And they moved to clear up any confusion that the entire Gables site is for sale.

They said they had been keen to acquire the “tiny strip of land” in front of the home’s main entrance since the Merafield Road bridge was replaced in 2016. Gables bosses said it has been put on auction without notice or offer to the charity.

To secure the safety and access to the site they need to raise funds to purchase the land, which will go to auction on December 4. The land is about 0.3 Acres (0.13 hectares) with a guide price of £2,000 - but because it is an auction, the land could go for more on the day and legal costs would have to be paid too.