A controversial planning application to build a single storey building for dog breeding was refused by Herefordshire County Council on Tuesday, October 16th.

The dog breeding unit, which proposed over 20 separate rooms inside, was planned to be built on a site in Marstow, Ross-on-Wye.

Herefordshire Council said: “It is considered that the proposal would be likely to have a potentially unacceptable and harmful impact on the character and amenity of the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and highway safety.”

They also concluded that there would be a significant impact on the surrounding properties, the River Wye, and found problems regarding waste and effluent discharges.

Local residents contacted the Ross Gazette to express other concerns regarding the potential use of the proposed building and fears over the term ‘dog breeding’.

Comments of this nature were also made to Herefordshire Council. One objection said: “Intensive breeding kennels like this are badly thought of, and with the new Licensing Laws October 1st 2018, which will be hard enough to implement, adding to more puppies being produced on the market should be discouraged.

“Large scale breeding setups in barns do not improve dog socialisation or outlook or health.”

Another objection said: “The dogs will be breeding in effectively a tin shed. Surely this is not safe practice.”See this week’s paper for more stories like this, available in shops and as a Digital Edition now.