Fears for hedgehog rescue centre’s  future after Wakefield Council’s legal letter

The rescue centre cares for up to 500 sick and injured hedgehogs a day at a shop unit on Sagar Street in Castleford town centre.

The shop's back door leads immediately to the Wakefield Council run Aire Street car park.

Their three large commercial waste bins are against a wall next to the back door.

Beth Campsill, who co-founded the charity, says a letter from Wakefield Council dated October 23 says the bins encroach on the car park and must be moved within 14 days or the council will take further action.

The letter from the council’s chief legal officer also states that the rear door is a ‘new point of access’, does not have Building Control approval and must not be used as it allows access to council owned land.

Beth said the charity moved in to the rented premises in May and has not made any structural changes to the shop unit.

She said the bins cannot be put outside the front of the shop as they would be in the way on the pavement on Sagar Street.

Beth said: "No other shops have got their bins on the street. Our bins don't affect any of the parking at all.

"We have asked the council where they would like us to put the bins and they just ignore our e-mails. We just get an automated response every time.

"I have no idea what we are going to do. We are a bit stuck.

"It has made me feel stressed. I've got a constant headache. I can't sleep and feel sick.

"They have said they will take further action. We are fearing they will take us to court and we could get fined and lose the money that people have donated and then lose this place and the hedgehogs will suffer."

The council's letter states: "I have been informed by the council's parking services manager that your organisation is occupying and taking over access land owned by the council, namely Aire Street Car Park.

"The council has not given you permission to occupy this land."

The letter continues by starting that if the three commercial waste bins are not removed within 14 days the council will consider further action.

Joe Jenkinson, service director for Planning, Transport and Strategic Highways at Wakefield Council, said: "Castleford Hedgehog Rescue does vital work looking after vulnerable animals. We know they are an important part of our community.

"We’ve been in touch with them about unauthorised changes they’ve made. These changes have created additional safety risks to people using the adjacent car park.

"As residents expect, we are very clear that organisations need to get permission from the council - if they want to make changes to how they access public land. We act fairly and consistently with all charities and businesses."

Beth's mum Jillian started rescuing hedgehogs around 15-years ago and housed them in her shed outside her home in Smawthorne.

Demand for the rescue grew and the charity moved to the Sagar Street shop unit in May this year.

Jillian is a care worker and Beth works four nights a week at Asda in Glasshoughton.

Both volunteer their time at the charity with Beth spending more than 40 hours a week caring for hedgehogs.

They have 159 hedgehogs at the moment suffering from a range of illnesses and injuries.

The most common injuries are from dog bites and garden strimmers.

Beth said in summer they care for up to 500 hedgehogs at a time and have 26 incubators.

The charity relies on donations from the public.