A fresh bid to operate kennels at the site of a former illegal puppy farm has been unanimously thrown out.
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 yesterday all agreed that despite the officer’s advice they would refuse the application.
One said the yard was “a complete bomb site”.
Planning consent had been granted for one-year at East Mains of Ardlogie, Fyvie 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 in order to convert them to house dogs.
Mid-Formartine Councillor Jim Gifford commented: “The place is a complete bombsite – 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.
It sparked particular concern as it was submitted by a woman, three of whose family members were prosecuted for keeping dogs in appalling conditions there in 2014.
The licence application was withdrawn last September shortly before it was due to be considered by the Formartine area committee.
A petition against it launched by Lynne Bevilacqua was signed by more than 7,500 campaigners.
Concerns over the new application had been raised about the tidiness of the proposed site and its impact on the local water supply.
A report by the local authority’s planning enforcement team had found that caravans which had previously been on the site had been removed and that although the land “remains in an untidy condition” it did not breach any planning regulation.
Senior planning officer Alan Davidson had recommended to the committee that the buildings be granted planning permission.
He said: “In terms of policy, it complies. Effectively it’s a dog kennels and we see the countryside as an appropriate place for businesses like that – despite all the baggage.”