VOLUNTEERS running a popular horse sanctuary are urging people to help secure its long-term future on land which 'should never be developed on'.

Wrexham Council is currently consulting on its Local Development Plan, mapping out which pieces of land in the county until 2030, to be approved by the Welsh Government.

As part of the proposals, land on Alyn Waters County Park in Llay, where the H.A.C.K sanctuary is based, has been earmarked as a possible site for a new travellers pitch.

The charity currently rents the land from the council but if it is chosen as a development plan site they could be moved off the land, with some horses having to be re-homed.

Objections are being lodged during the consultation period which lasts until May 31.

Jane Lloyd, who has volunteered at the sanctuary for more than 20 years, said: "We think it's such an important bit of land, environmentally and ecologically as much as anything. It is land which should never be developed on.

"It is part of the country park, and we graze ponies on it but there is also a huge amount of wildlife there including badger setts and bats nests in the woods.

"The woods themselves are over 400-years-old, it is ancient woodland and it is a really rich area of archaeological interest.

"There is an ancient burial site nearby at Cae Alyn. I've lived in Llay for 38 years and didn't realise until recently that Wales' largest collection of Bronze Age artefacts was found at Cae Alyn."

Just last week the sanctuary, which has been running for more than 25 years and rescued more than 200 horses, scooped the top prize at the 2018 Airbus and Leader Community Awards, for its work rescuing and treating abandoned horses.

Staff also help children with learning needs who benefit from contact with horses and run a variety of educational programmes.

Ms Lloyd said it is important that any objections against the site being chosen for development are made on valid grounds, rather than "emotional" ones.

She added: "We've got to remember it may not be included in the plan, and the council would still have to apply for planning permission.

"Although the Welsh Government would pay for the travellers site to be developed there is a covenant on the land and there would be a huge cost to buy it out, so even then it could be quite some way away.

"We have a good relationship with the travelling community and they actually might not want to live there. We also have a very good relationship with Wrexham Council, so we have to work with each other.

"That means putting our concerns to them based on facts, which are the environmental and ecological reasons that are most valid and look for people to support us."

Comments on the proposed Local Development Plan can be submitted at wrexham-consult.objective.co.uk/portal/