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Buttercups Sanctuary for Goats in Boughton Monchelsea appeals for support

It's been delighting guests for 16 years but now a planning wrangle is threatening the future of a much-loved goat sanctuary.

Since Buttercup Sanctuary for Goats formation as a charity in 2003 the site in Wierton Road, Boughton Monchelsea has offered a safe haven to mistreated or unwanted goats from across the country.

Buttercups Goat Sanctuary looks after 150 animals
Buttercups Goat Sanctuary looks after 150 animals

As well as looking after the animals on the 5.5 acre site, the sanctuary operates a re-homing service, seeking to place goats with new responsible owners.

It currently has 150 goats in its immediate care and has placed another 125 in foster homes, which it supervises regularly.

But now Maidstone council is threatening to shut down the sanctuary unless it takes action to legitimise its situation after it emerged that the popular visitor attraction does not have planning permission. Its founder, Robert Hitch, who first started taking in goats in 1989, has been forced to apply for retrospective planning permission for the four stable blocks, tea-room, and three sheds on the site, along with its 45-space car park.

Previously Buttercups had been viewed as a commercial agricultural enterprise, and so was excused the need for planning permission, but now planning officers have taken the view that the sanctuary use is not an agricultural operation.

Ironically, it seems that if Mr Hitch were to slaughter the goats for their meat instead of looking after them, he would not need permission.

Frankie the Goat with her guardian Stephanie Baker, aged 16
Frankie the Goat with her guardian Stephanie Baker, aged 16

The sanctuary employs two part-time and seven full-time staff, but is supported by 65 volunteers.

Among them are Sandra Baker and her daughter Stephanie.

Mrs Baker said: "Stephanie has autism and severe mental health difficulties and Buttercups has been a literal lifesaver for her over the past six years.

"We both volunteer there on a Friday morning and they perform goat therapy with her which has made a massive difference to her wellbeing.

"This charity has had such a massive impact on so many people as well as the animals and its loss really would be catastrophic."

Ann Widdecombe with Bruce and Megan (23934899)
Ann Widdecombe with Bruce and Megan (23934899)

Mrs Baker said: "The animals often arrive with heartbreaking stories of past cruelty and suffering and a deep distrust of humans, born of their mistreatment and pain.

"A dedicated army of staff and volunteers work tirelessly to rehabilitate these animals and give then a second chance at life."

Mrs Baker he said: "Sitting on the grass, the warmth of the summer sun resting upon your shoulders, the sound of contented goats finally at peace after a lifetime of suffering is an experience not to be missed."

Buttercups is the only registered goat sanctuary in the UK.

Mrs Baker and 134 other people have already written to Maidstone council to voice their support for the sanctuary.

Mr Hitch warned: "We must not take it for granted that we shall automatically be given planning consent, as some nearby residents have complained to the planning department about the number of people and cars arriving at the sanctuary.

"We may be told to make alterations to opening times or have other restraints placed on us.

"The worst possible outcome is that we will be refused planning consent, or given such restrictions that it becomes impossible to continue running effectively.

"That outcome would mean staff redundancies and the sending to market of all the goats that rely on us for their care.

"We plead with all our visitors and friends to write to Maidstone council to give us your support."

The sanctuary is visited by thousands of people each year. Entry is free, but visitors are asked to make a donation and also support the charity by purchasing treats to feed to the goats and using the tea-room.

In addition the sanctuary runs adoption and guardianships schemes, where members of the public can "adopt" their own goat by paying towards its upkeep.

The former MP for Maidstone, Ann Widdecombe, has adopted two goats - Bruce and Megan - and is a patron of the sanctuary.

She said: "This is a real jobsworth approach by the council. The sanctuary has been there for years and everybody's known about it. It has huge support across Maidstone and does a great deal of enormously important work.

"The council should apply some common sense and proportionality and not insist on following every letter of the planning regualtions."

Roehampton University has used the goats at Buttercups for studies into animal behaviour and a professor from the university, Dr Alan McElligitt, has written to the borough council describing Buttercups as a centre for "world-leading research."

Maidstone council issued this statement: "We first became aware of the change of use of the land at Buttercups Goat Sanctuary on April 3, 2019.

"The matter was drawn to our attention and following an enforcement investigation it was concluded that there had been a material change in the use of the land which requires planning permission.

"MBC has provided the owner of the sanctuary several opportunities throughout the past six months to submit a planning application.

"We can confirm that we have now received a valid planning application for the continued use of land as a goat sanctuary and associated operational development which will be processed accordingly."

Planning application 19/505435 refers.

To leave a comment with the borough council online, click here.

Escaped animals, unusual finds and news from the RSPCA can all be found here.

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