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RSPCA will move home if new reservoir is created

John DevineCambridgeshire
News imageJohn Devine/BBC The main entrance to the RSPCA Block Fen animal centre. There are two hedges on either side of open double metal gates and roadway to access the site. Blue and white signage says RSPCA Block Fen animal centre.John Devine/BBC
The RSPCA Block Fen centre can house more than 150 cats, dogs, rabbits and other animals at a time

An animal rescue centre in Cambridgeshire has confirmed it will move home if a new multi-million pound reservoir is created.

The RSPCA Block Fen Animal Centre was built in 2003 in Wimblington - an area Anglian Water and Cambridge Water have earmarked for the Fens Reservoir.

The companies are developing proposals for the project ahead of an application to the Planning Inspectorate in 2028. If approved, the reservoir between Chatteris and Doddington could supply water to 250,000 homes.

Anglian Water said it is working closely with the RSPCA and looking at compensation and support.

News imageAnglian Water An aerial artist's impression of a new reservoir. The water is in the centre, in a pool shaped like the cross section of a snail shell. There is a jetty and small island. The water is surrounded by landscaped grounds and then green fields. Roads, including the A141, Forty Foot Drain and Sixteen Foot Drain run along three sides of the site. Anglian Water
Fens Reservoir could supply a quarter of a million homes across the East of England with water from 2036

The centre, which can house 72 cats, 63 dogs, 32 rabbits, and poultry and farm animals on its 70 acres of land, said it had helped rescue thousands of animals over more than two decades.

Most are rescued from neglect or ill-treatment by their previous owners.

A spokesperson for the RSPCA said the charity is "saddened" at the prospect of moving but had already started searching for a new site.

"We have been in conversations with Anglian Water since plans for the reservoir were first unveiled to fully understand the potential impacts for the centre, and we will continue to discuss our future options with them," they added.

Anglian Water said it began discussions with the RSPCA in 2022 and agreed it would be difficult for the charity to operate normally while the reservoir was built.

The company added that a range of options were considered before the RSPCA decided to move the centre to a new location.

There are currently 30 members of staff and 27 volunteers at the RSPCA Block Fen.

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