Access fears over rabbit sanctuary

GREAT CHISHILL residents claim poor access and parking facilities are the main reasons they object to a rabbit ­sanctuary in the village.

The Rabbit Residence Rescue, in Wallers Close, is under threat after the owner Caroline Collings was asked to put in a change-of-use application to South Cambs District Council.

If this is refused the residence will be closed.

Complaints from residents triggered the request from the district council, while Great Chishill Parish Council has recommended that the application be rejected.

Norman Mardell of Wallers Close, said: "This is a small close and there is no room for people to park if we have too many visitors.

"There's also the noise. She goes down to feed the rabbits at 2am and puts the generator and floodlights on."

Another resident Ken Lawrence added: "You have to go down a tiny track past a lot of houses to get to the rabbit centre, and there's no room to turn round.

"We're worried about what will ­happen if they expand it."

Tim Scott of Great Chishill Parish Council said: "We're not against a ­rabbit centre, but we are against one without proper access.

"There are a lot of elderly people in Wallers Close and they shouldn't have to be car park attendants."

Miss Collings denies these claims.

She says she is writing to all the ­residents in Wallers Close to invite them to meet her and voice their concerns, and already has the support of two ­people from the close.

"I haven't used my generator or lights for nearly two years at the request of Mr Lawrence," she said.

"If I go there after dark I have to creep around and use a torch. I have my own car park and clearly instruct all visitors not to park in the close."

She added that she had no plans to expand the residence.

"Even if I wanted to, there is no room. If anything I am looking to downsize," she said.