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19
Dec
Controversial Harrogate dog day care plans withdrawn
Plans for a dog day care site in Harrogate have been withdrawn.
The Harrogate Dog Day Care, which occupies part of Strayside House on West Park, sought retrospective approval for the change of use from an office to a dog day care facility.
Owner Sarah Smith put the plans to North Yorkshire Council in October, but started operating at the town-centre site in April.
She sought permission to use the first floor as overnight accommodation for dogs and the second floor as a day care area.
But the plans proved divisive and received 39 objections, as well as 32 expressions of support.
Residents of Prince of Wales Mansions, which is next to Strayside House, raised concerns over noise levels and smell.
Dr David Holmes, the director of Prince of Wales Mansions Harrogate Ltd, submitted a lengthy objection letter on behalf of the residents and mansion’s board.
The letter, seen by the Stray Ferret, said:
Many of our residents are disturbed and upset by the volume of barking from the dogs over the past six-seven months. Evidence of noise detrimental to mental health has been, and will be, submitted to environmental protection using the nuisance monitoring form in the noise nuisance pack issued by North Yorkshire Council.
Ms Smith has also erected metal fencing in the car park, which plans said would be used as a dog exercise area, but no external changes to the building were proposed.
Dr Holmes' letter also said residents and the board were "extremely concerned" about the potential volume of noise the outdoor area could cause.
He was also worried about people parking on West Park to drop-off and pick-up their dogs.
Fellow objector and Prince of Wales Mansions resident, Elizabeth Marchbank-Gilbey, said she is “often disturbed” by barking dogs.
Ms Marchbank-Gilbey felt the business would be better suited to the outer parts of the town, or in a more rural area, and flagged potential smells that could come from the site.
The back of the site. The metal fencing is also visible in the photo.
The Stray Ferret put these objections to Ms Smith last month. At the time, she said the company had “refined and improved processes” since opening in April.
New noise management processes have been implemented and this is going well, Ms Smith said last month, adding the company serves local customers' needs.
But Ms Smith withdrew the plans on December 11.
She told the Stray Ferret Harrogate Dog Day Care is working to submit a new application, which will be “slightly different” to the first one.
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