A leading animal charity has been criticised by a Deeside community council after members complained they weren’t consulted about changes to the layout of its new welfare centre.
Crathes, Drumoak and Durris Community Council (CDDCC) said it had been ignored by the Scottish SPCA which is constructing a £2million base at Drumoak.
The Aberdeenshire Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre is expected to be completed by next summer.
Situated on the A93 Aberdeen to Braemar road between Banchory and Culter at the Drum crossroads, it will be only the second Scottish SPCA centre to have facilities for horses, and will be equipped with dedicated puppy and kitten rooms.
The base will mean animals found in Aberdeenshire can be helped closer to home, instead of having to travel to Inverness or Dundee.
But the community council has expressed “considerable displeasure” over alterations to the scheme.
Crathes, Drumoak and Durris Community Council vice-chairman John Baillie said the group was “happy enough” with the original proposal, but added: “Since then there have been at least five or six further modifications to the plan.
“They tried to take the bund away which was designed to cut down noise pollution to neighbouring properties.”
He said members were also concerned that a stable and hay barn, originally intended as part of the complex, would be built separately under revised plans, and claimed the buildings were bigger and taller than first envisaged.
But Scottish SPCA Chief Superintendent Mike Flynn defended the charity’s handling of the planning application and insisted it had followed correct procedure.
He said: “It has been concluded both independently and by Aberdeenshire Council’s planning department that noise from rescued dogs in our centre would not impact on the community and the bund would be useless.
“We are therefore appealing against the planning condition to include the bund within the build because we don’t believe a charity should be forced to waste money.”
He acknowledged that alterations had been made to the original layout of the stable and hay shed, but insisted: “These are minor changes for health and safety reasons which have not altered the size or location of the buildings.
“We are keen to provide these equine facilities at our centre as they are desperately lacking in the area and we are hopeful of receiving permission,” he added.
“We have always sought advice from Aberdeenshire Council and followed the correct planning procedures at all times.
“It is disappointing that the community council has misrepresented the situation and disregarded independent and expert advice provided to them.”