An alleged puppy farm in Chapelton has been refused retrospective planning permission by South Lanarkshire Council.
An application by Scott Bennett and Adam Simpson was refused by the council’s planning committee despite recommendations from officers that it be approved.
The kennel and cattery at the C-listed Brae Farm is already operational. Objectors had raised issues that the kennel was not compliant with the council’s local development plan and alleged it was a puppy farm.
The application would have been dealt with by council officers, but requests by Avondale and Stonehouse councillors Margaret Cooper and Graeme Campbell meant it was taken to the committee.
Councillor Graeme Campbell gave an impassioned speech in objection to the application, claiming that both Police Scotland and the Scottish SPCA have demanded the applicant cease trading.
He added: “In my 12 years as a councillor, I have always said there’s a right way to do planning and a wrong way.
“This applicant was told to stop building, told to stop breeding dogs and told to stop trading. There are now on site five buildings that don’t have permission.
“Most of these are now progressing through the planning process, but at least one is not. In Scotland, we have a democracy in planning. You are the last line on this one.
“This case has been horrendous, not just for myself but for the neighbours. This business is illegitimate, I believe and there are multiple reasons that this should be rejected.”
There was no representation from the applicant made at the meeting on Tuesday.
Committee moved that the application be refused due to a number of issues raised by objectors.
These included that the kennel was not sympathetic to the listed building, that there was no locational need for the kennel and that it adversely affects local environmental and landscape character.
East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow MP Dr Lisa Cameron was one of four people to submit a letter of objection.
Area manager for planning and building standards services for East Kilbride, Tina Meikle, said that, in terms of the local development plan, it was officers’ view that there was no reason to refuse permission.
She added: “The fact that it is a retrospective application is a main issue with objectors.
“While we are disappointed the application is retrospective, we are required to assess the application on its own merits.
“There are no known animal welfare issues.”
No councillor was willing to move that the recommendations in the report be approved.
Councillor Cambpell also raised concerns that the applicants co-own the access road with neighbours and that they did not have permission for any of the works already carried out on the road.
