Thousands of people have signed an online petition which urges Wokingham Borough Council to withdraw the enforcement notice that could lead to Hare Hatch Sheeplands Garden Centre being permanently closed. 

The council's decision to refuse the garden centre's lawful use application could force its closure, but over 3,000 people have leapt to the support of the centre by adding their signatures to the ' Save Hare Hatch Sheeplands ' petition.

The council refused Hare Hatch Sheepland's application on March 31 and then initiated legal proceedings to force them to comply with the enforcement notice for illegally expanding into the green belt .

The petition implores WBC to withdraw the notice and re-enter negotiations with Hare Hatch Sheeplands to resolve the dispute, which began in October 2012 when the first enforcement notice was issued.

Heather Mailley, a local resident who organised the petition, said: "So many people in Twyford and the surrounding area don’t want it to close. I do not work there, I am a customer, but it really would be unfair on the community if the centre was closed.

"They (WBC) are being very unfair towards Hare Hatch. All Hare Hatch wants is to be able to trade on a level playing field with Wyevale garden centre and other centres in the area.

"When you look into all the technical details the council are right about what they say, because a few rules have been broken. But that is the only way they can compete with the other centres."

She added: "I’m currently looking into what else can be done to save the centre."