A cat sanctuary in Abbey Wood is at risk of closure after planning permission to keep the home open was rejected by Greenwich council.

The CatCuddles Sanctuary is run by Evina Koroni and has been running since 2009, although Evina has been fostering cats for charities such as Cats Protection Greenwich, Celia Hammond and Cats Protection Bexley.

Evina applied for retrospective planning permission, believing it would be “a mere formality”, but was shocked to discover that it was rejected on February 1.

The reasons given by Greenwich Council are that the cat sanctuary creates excessive noise and odour, which negatively impacts neighbouring properties.

The rejection letter also states that the cat sanctuary results in a loss of property for dwelling, and that the structures in the rear garden have a detrimental impact on the appearance and scale of the neighbourhood.

Over 4,500 supporters of the cat sanctuary have signed a petition being sent to Greenwich council appealing the decision.

The petition and accompanying letter will also be sent to the Secretary of State for the Environment Andrea Leadsom, and local councillors for Abbey Wood.

The letter says: “As the charity’s founder, Evina is the most important in a network of volunteer foster carers across London.

“Though she fosters only a small number of cats at her home, most are adopted very rapidly.

“This quick turnover means that through Evina’s fostering alone the charity helps literally hundreds of cats, taking many from the most unfortunate of circumstances and placing all in loving forever homes.

“Unless the decision is reversed however, this will all stop. Many cats will be without help, and many local people, too, as without Evina’s fostering the charity’s presence in Greenwich will lessen.”