Death sentence for 72 Horses * Amended

An elderly Essex couple are holding a peaceful demonstration with Angel the horse and Star the donkey outside the Tesco Head Office on Monday 29th Jan at 12 o'clock.

[ClickPress, Fri Jan 26 2007] Ernie Clarke, 80, and his wife Paula, 73, have been reduced to tears as the land that the 200 animals they look after is being sold by supermarket giants Tesco.

Tesco sent their estate agent to see the 56 acres in Brentwood, Essex just before Christmas and again just after the New Year.

They have not yet confirmed how much they are going to sell the land for but it could be the equivalent to just 30 minutes worth of Tesco’s profits.

Paula and Ernie and crying out for help - the stress and worry along with the day to day running of 200 animals ,including 72 horses, would be too much for people 40 years younger.

Ernie was too upset to comment in great detail but says that he wants Hopefield to carry on after he dies and continue to be a caring place where abused and unwanted animals can live.

Tesco have kindly let Hopefield’s animals stay on the land since 2002 , perhaps while they see if they can build a supermarket on the site, but this appears to no longer be an option.

Tesco is saying that Ernie will be safe for 5 more years, although at such an elderly age, with over 200 animals and the burden of uncertainty the upset and stress is taking his toll on his health.

Local Conservative Councillor Russell Quirk, who is an avid supporter of Hopefield has actively lobbied that Tesco withhold some of the land in question from the sale and donate it back to Ernie and Paula.

'Tesco could achieve their aim of satisfying their shareholders and at the same time, do the right thing morally by compromising as I have proposed, thus giving Hopefield a permanent, albeit smaller, area to care for their animals in. There is hardly a huge difference in value to Mr Leahy, their Chief Executive, whether 35 or the full 56 acres are sold off'.

Ideally Hopefield would like to remain on the full quota of land and carry on with their hard work for animals, being a local centre for the community as well as educational centre for children but with the sale open to anybody they are extremely worried that the animals would have to put down and terrified as to who would buy the land.

Ernie can be reached on 01277 201110 - http://www.hopefield.org.uk/

Karin Ridgers for Hopefield Animal Sanctuary

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