Ann ‘amazed’ at public support

A Holbeach woman says she’s been overwhelmed at the generosity of people offering to pay for her to get planning permission to continue her own fundraising for charity.

Ann Gregory says she’s had some incredible donations, including random people pushing bank notes through her door, since The Voice last week reported she’d been told by South Holland District Council she needed to pay to apply to change her Boston Road South home into a business as well.

She’s raised around £23,000 for Jerry Green Dog Rescue by selling items in her car port, but a complaint was put in to the district council.

A letter from its planning enforcement officer Sally Pusey dated July 12 states: “We expect the application to be received by August 22, 2022 or for the sales to cease by the same date.”

But an incredible amount of donations have come in to pay the £468 planning fee.

One gentleman rang The Voice offering to pay £200.

Ann says others have been posting money including donations of £50 through her door and people including children have stopped her in the street with donations.

Her friend Carol Anderson set up a Just Giving page where £520 has been pledged.

“I can’t thank each and everyone who has helped me enough,” Ann said. “There are some amazingly kind people.

“It’s overwhelming and a little bit emotional.

“There’s been some lovely messages and some people even wanting to set a petition up.

“The support has been amazing. I am so shocked at people’s kindness.”

Ann has vowed that any money donated that is not needed for the application and will go to Jerry Green Dog Rescue.

That includes all the money if she decides not to go ahead with the planning application due to abuse she told The Voice she’s receiving from a member of the public.

It’s now a police matter, with Ann saying she’s even contemplated moving house due to the abuse.

“I can’t take much more,” she says. “I absolutely love raising money for Jerry Green.

“I never take a penny but it gives me another purpose in life, something to focus on day in and day out, and I’ve met so many wonderful people as a result. Half of me wants to carry on but half of me is so emotionally drained from all this and I don’t want to make a rash decision.”

Both Ann and her husband Mac, who has Parkinson’s and is cared for by Ann, have written letters to The Voice. You can read them on page eight.