Dismay as dog care scheme is rejected (From Thisisdorset)

Dismay as dog care scheme is rejected

7:00am Monday 25th May 2009

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A POOLE man intends to appeal after his dream of setting up his own dog day care business was rejected by planners.

Neil Stow thought he had hit all the right buttons with his proposal for day-boarding for dogs at a warehouse at the rear of 293 Wallisdown Road.

But his application for change of use was refused and now he intends to appeal.

“It would be somewhere where someone could drop a dog off at 8am and pick them up at 6pm after a day’s work and know they were being cared for,” said dog owner Neil, who has been a volunteer for Waggy Tails Rescue.

He would look after up to 10 dogs, walking them a couple of times a day and there would be an area where they could relieve themselves.

“This is an option people could use who want to work but don’t want to leave their dogs at home all day.

“Some people have to give their dogs up because there is no-one to look after them,” he said.

Neil, 33, of Canford Heath, who has a dog of his own called Pebbles, came up with the plan after being made redundant. He is determined to fight on after an officer turned down his proposal on two grounds, which he believes could have been dealt with by conditions.

Concerns were raised over the harmful effect on the nearby Bourne Valley SSSI of increased dog walking on the heath and an increase in vehicles, involving reversing on a main road.

“Natural England raised concerns over the use of the heathland for dog walking which could damage the protected site and transportation objected to the scheme, concerned it would increase highway safety dangers,” said Richard Genge, team manager in planning, Borough of Poole.

“The decision to refuse Mr Stow’s application was made in accordance with the adopted development plan and any appeal will be reviewed by the Planning Inspectorate.”

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