A woman who started a petition to have kennels near a north-east village blocked has hailed the decision of her local councillors.
Lynne Bevilacqua gathered more than 7,500 signatures against a scheme to convert buildings on a farm at East Mains of Ardlogie, near Fyvie, into housing for dogs.
Bid to convert buildings to kennels has been refused permission
She got involved in January after learning that the site had previously been used for an illegal puppy farm.
Councillors finally blocked the scheme last week.
And last night, Miss Bevilacqua said the council had “seen the light”.
She has always maintained that there was “no need” for such a scheme in 2017.
And she has now pledged to combat similar plans around the north-east.
“I’m absolutely delighted that the councillors have actually seen the light,” Miss Bevilacqua said.
“I just now hope that other councils take this on board.
“But they haven’t heard the last of me. The fight goes on to stop these things.
“I had been away for seven days so didn’t even know about the result until I got back. But people have always been very supportive of the petition.”
On Tuesday, planning officers had recommended the application should be granted despite the “baggage” associated with it on the grounds that “the countryside is an
appropriate location for kennels”.
However, councillors at the Formartine area committee all agreed that despite the officer’s advice they would refuse the application.
Planning consent had been granted for one-year at the farm but it expired in October 2016 – during which time no licence had been applied for.
Michelle Wood had applied for a further five-year permission to retain the existing modular buildings to convert them to house dogs.
Mid-Formartine Councillor Jim Gifford said: “The place is a complete bomb site – there are no other words to describe it. If it fits any of our planning policy, I would have to question it.”
The Scottish SPCA and other animal welfare groups raised fears when a bid was made last year to secure a dog breeding licence for the remote site.
The licence application was withdrawn last September shortly before it was due to be considered by the Formartine area committee.
