A CHARITY which looks after abandoned pets has spoken out in an attempt to dispel rumours it is selling land to a property developer.

Saltburn Animal Rescue Association (SARA) has been urging residents to oppose a planning application which has been submitted to Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council for 550 homes on land North of Kirkleatham Business Park and West of Kirkleatham Lane, Redcar.

However, rumours have been circulating that the charity is selling off land to the potential developers.

A spokeswoman for the charity, which has been at Foxrush Farm for nine years and provides a haven for stray, unwanted and abandoned animals, is dismayed that people believe they are colluding with the developers.

"We held an open day last weekend and people were asking why were selling up and moving," she said. "I have no idea why people are thinking that because we have been campaigning to get local residents to write to the council and oppose the scheme.

"It horrifies us that people believe that we are wanting to sell up, nothing could be farther from the truth. I really don't know where the rumours have come from but we just want to make it clear that we don't want to go anywhere and the only threat to our future is if the housing development gets the go ahead."

The scheme, which has been planned by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) through co-operation with Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, includes starter homes, which is the Government’s initiative to help young first-time buyers purchase a home.

However, the charity, which backs onto the proposed housing development, fear that if it is approved any noise complaints from new residents could lead to the closure of the site and bring to an end the charity's ability to care for stray or abandoned animals.

The charity is urging people to contact to the council and oppose the scheme by writing to David Pedlow, Planning Officer, Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council, Development Manager, Redcar & Cleveland House, Kirkleatham Street, Redcar TS10 1RT.

Alternatively by email by going to planning.redcar-cleveland.gov.uk and search for Application Ref R/2016/0663/OOM