When Carmarthenshire County Council held their planning meeting to discuss the retrospective planning application from change of use agriculture to dog breeding, it was requested by one of the Councillors for a site meeting. This will take place in private at 10.30am at Beili Bedw Farm, on the 30th August 2011 followed by a meeting at 11.30am by the planning committee when a decision will be made to approve or disapprove the planning application.
It would be good if common sense was used in coming to a decision but I fear that will not be the case as little if any consideration will be given to the animal welfare aspect of running such a large dog breeding establishment of 196 dogs without ensuring the premises are adequately staff. At the present time there is just the owner, a wife working, with one and half employees to look after 196 dogs and a sheep farm. It is an impossible task to carry out all the tasks efficiently that are required in caring for so many dogs, whelping bitches and puppies as well as look after such a large number of sheep and more in the future according to the application.
A business venture which this is, has to prove that it is sustainable in planning legislation and 'emerging policy is a relevant consideration' if that is the case then surely the proposed legislation for dog breeding for Wales must be a consideration when making a planning decision on a dog breeding establishment. If the legislation is passed in the autumn requiring all dog breeding premises to employ staff then these premises must be prepared to employ at a minimum of 10 members of staff (20 dogs one employee) and more if there are whelping bitches and puppies. This is a question that must be asked by the Councillors on the planning committee, agreed and complied with by the applicant prior to planning permission being considered.
But one has to ask why has it taken until now for the question to even be raised? The premises should not have been granted a licence in the first place for so many dogs and no staff. I cannot understand why Carmarthenshire County Council are so lacking in common sense when issuing dog breeding licenses. They must know how much attention dogs need daily and at night too with whelping bitches and puppies but it is obvious it was never a consideration to the licensing department in the past and unlikely to be a consideration in the future even if planning is agreed on the 30th August 2011.
Showing posts with label Carmarthenshire County Council. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Carmarthenshire County Council. Show all posts
Tuesday, 23 August 2011
Tuesday, 21 June 2011
Beili Bedw - Retrospective Planning Application - Objections Please.
URGENT - your help is needed
Retrospective Planning Application, dated 8th March 2011. Agriculture Shed to Dog Breeding at Beili Bedw Farm, Llanllwni, Pencader, Carmarthenshire, SA39 9DPOn the 28th January 2010, the Local Planning Authority confirmed that a shed could be erected. The application stated that the shed was for agriculture use for sheep and agriculture machinery. This did not require the need for a specific grant of planning permission as the operation would be permitted development under the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995.
This resulted in the shed being erected, but within a short period of time it was bought to the attention of Puppy Alert that dogs were being kept within the shed and it was fitted out with tiled walls and floor for the purpose of dog breeding. Planning enforcement were advised accordingly and a visit to the premises was made, the consequences of which the applicant was advised to submit a planning application for change of use from agriculture to dog breeding.
Background: The premises were granted change of use of calf pens into dog kennels for up to 9 dogs in 1994. This required the applicant to request written approval for any intensification of the business, this was never applied for.
From 1994 to date the dog breeding business has intensified to 140 dogs but in the latter few years to 180 (in recent months the dog breeding licence was renewed by Carmarthenshire County Council for 196 dogs), although allegedly the figure for dogs kept on the farm was far in excess of either of these numbers and is likely to be so in the future with or without a licence if this application is approved.
The premises are a working farm with 850 breeding sheep and 200 followers, with 120 acres owned and 100 acres rented and more envisaged in the future. Plus of course the dogs, which incidentally do not appear to have any exercise areas attached to any of the units (livestock sheds) that are used for keeping the dogs 24/7. The applicant is said to employ one full and one part time staff. How can they possible ensure high animal welfare standards for the dogs when they have 196 dogs and 1,000 sheep and land to care for too?.
Puppy Alert will object to this application and is asking that others if they feel concerned too to do likewise. The plans can be viewed here. The planning application number is W/24449
http://www.ukplanning.com/carmarthenshire/findCaseFile.do?appType=planning+folder&appNumber=W%2F24449&action=Search
Please send your objections for the attention of the Planning Development Officer, Stuart Willis
email: planningconsultations@carmarthenshire.gov.uk
Planning can only take into account objections on planning issues, such as highways, noise, hazardous waste etc. However the volume of objections to a planning application can be important too, including personal opinions. Please look at the application, read the planning agents report, the latter comments are just his written opinion as to the reasons that change of use from agriculture to dog breeding should be given planning permission. If you do not agree with the agent that dog breeding is an agriculture pursuit then write an objection and say why you are against this application and feel it should not go ahead.
Remember the premises are now licensed for 196 dogs Carmarthenshire County Council appears to be indifferent to animal welfare, public opinion and those of Puppy Alert that to accommodate 196 dogs (with the possibility of more) on a farm premises that has the responsibility for a thousand sheep and few staff is totally irresponsible. Dogs are companion animals requiring human company, socialization and exercise, not isolation and deprivation. They are not livestock and should not be treated as such, their needs are entirely different. To accommodate so many dogs in one area places a higher risk of disease spreading. The mass production of irresponsibly bred puppies from non health screened parents should never be condoned – neither should the fact that these mass produced puppies are destined for sale by dealers and pet shops. Stop puppy farming, battery farming and the indiscriminate commercial breeding of dogs by writing and objecting to this application. You have a choice the dogs and puppies do not.
Thank you
From 1994 to date the dog breeding business has intensified to 140 dogs but in the latter few years to 180 (in recent months the dog breeding licence was renewed by Carmarthenshire County Council for 196 dogs), although allegedly the figure for dogs kept on the farm was far in excess of either of these numbers and is likely to be so in the future with or without a licence if this application is approved.
The premises are a working farm with 850 breeding sheep and 200 followers, with 120 acres owned and 100 acres rented and more envisaged in the future. Plus of course the dogs, which incidentally do not appear to have any exercise areas attached to any of the units (livestock sheds) that are used for keeping the dogs 24/7. The applicant is said to employ one full and one part time staff. How can they possible ensure high animal welfare standards for the dogs when they have 196 dogs and 1,000 sheep and land to care for too?.
Puppy Alert will object to this application and is asking that others if they feel concerned too to do likewise. The plans can be viewed here. The planning application number is W/24449
http://www.ukplanning.com/carmarthenshire/findCaseFile.do?appType=planning+folder&appNumber=W%2F24449&action=Search
Please send your objections for the attention of the Planning Development Officer, Stuart Willis
email: planningconsultations@carmarthenshire.gov.uk
Planning can only take into account objections on planning issues, such as highways, noise, hazardous waste etc. However the volume of objections to a planning application can be important too, including personal opinions. Please look at the application, read the planning agents report, the latter comments are just his written opinion as to the reasons that change of use from agriculture to dog breeding should be given planning permission. If you do not agree with the agent that dog breeding is an agriculture pursuit then write an objection and say why you are against this application and feel it should not go ahead.
Remember the premises are now licensed for 196 dogs Carmarthenshire County Council appears to be indifferent to animal welfare, public opinion and those of Puppy Alert that to accommodate 196 dogs (with the possibility of more) on a farm premises that has the responsibility for a thousand sheep and few staff is totally irresponsible. Dogs are companion animals requiring human company, socialization and exercise, not isolation and deprivation. They are not livestock and should not be treated as such, their needs are entirely different. To accommodate so many dogs in one area places a higher risk of disease spreading. The mass production of irresponsibly bred puppies from non health screened parents should never be condoned – neither should the fact that these mass produced puppies are destined for sale by dealers and pet shops. Stop puppy farming, battery farming and the indiscriminate commercial breeding of dogs by writing and objecting to this application. You have a choice the dogs and puppies do not.
Thank you
Monday, 20 June 2011
Cefn Cloch (Ace Kennels) asks for permission to continue breeding dogs.
Hefin Davies the owner of a large, licensed, commercial dog breeding kennel in Meidrim, Carmathanshire, Wales, is asking Carmarthenshire County Council Planning Department to allow him to continue with his dog breeding activities. He has submitted a retrospective planning application and requested to be granted a 'certificate of lawfulness' for an existing use of outbuildings and yards as dog breeding kennels. The dogs are kept in a steel and timber framed kennel building and yard and the dog breeding business is enclosed by a ring fence of buildings with dogs having a free run in the centre.
In March 2010 the premises were granted planning permission to convert a barn at the farm into an office and dog showroom. Did a planning officer not consider it appropriate at the time of receipt of the application for the dog showroom and office or when inspecting of the premises consider checking the history of the premises to verify if planning permission was ever granted or requested for all the buildings used for dog breeding on the farm?
Surely the owner of the premises, himself once a dairy farmer, now switched to dog breeding (they call it diversification) must we aware that since the premises were licensed in 1998 for just 8 dogs that if the numbers of dogs are increased, at some stage over the years, (when a dog breeding sideline becomes a commercial business) that planning permission is required. Did he make enquires with the planning department? Was change of use from agriculture to dog breeding not a consideration, if buildings now used for dog breeding were previously used to house dairy cattle on this once active dairy farm?
What role has Carmarthenshire Public Protection Department played in this fiasco? They are responsible for licensing the premises and in 1998 they licensed the premises for just 8 dogs! What has happened since 1998? Did the owners notify the Council that they wished to change the conditions of their licence due to increasing the numbers of dogs on the premises every year to today's figure of 142 dogs? Did the licensing officer whilst carrying out their yearly inspections questioned the large number of dogs on the premises over and above 8 dogs listed in 1998? Many questions that remain unanswered but here is record of the licence figures.
2003 - 78 breeding bitches 1 dog 9 stud dogs
2004 - 58 breeding bitches 4 dogs 11 stud dogs
2005 - 98 breeding bitches 5 dogs 9 stud dogs
2006 - 88 breeding bitches 6 dogs 12 stud dogs
2007 - 81 breeding bitches 10 dogs 16 stud dogs
2008 - 89 breeding bitches 14 dogs 3 stud dogs
2009 - 95 breeding bitches 9 dogs 16 stud dogs
2010 -113 breeding bitches 4 dogs 4 stud dogs
2011 - 95 breeding bitches 33 dogs 14 stud dogs - Are these figures correct? Why have 33 dogs appeared, they are not listed as stud dogs but just dogs, are they perhaps breeding bitches placed in the wrong column?
The questions that need answering are:
Why has planning permission not requested by the owners or asked to be applied for by the Council until now?
Where are the exercise runs for the dogs? These should be attached to but separate from their sleeping quarters, it is not acceptable for Councils to licence premises on the assumption that dog breeders will allow free exercise to their dogs as appears to be the case here. It is well known that many do not and dogs live their life in confinement.
Why doesn't Carmarthenshire County Council place a ceiling on the numbers of dogs they allow a dog breeder to own and breed from on each breeding establishment?
Does Carmarthenshire Council ascertain before and at each yearly inspection whether adequate staff are employed and suitably qualified in animal welfare?
Why does Carmarthenshire Council allow these large commercial dog breeding establishments to operate without ensuring that all dogs used for breeding are screened under the BVA, KC screening tests for hereditary conditions known in each pedigree breed?
Not all of these questions are asked on the Council inspection reports but Councils can place extra conditions on a Dog Breeders Licence, providing it is expedient to the purpose of the Act. Therefore they should encourage good practice and introduce extra conditions that are beneficial to animal welfare on each of the premises they licence.
In March 2010 the premises were granted planning permission to convert a barn at the farm into an office and dog showroom. Did a planning officer not consider it appropriate at the time of receipt of the application for the dog showroom and office or when inspecting of the premises consider checking the history of the premises to verify if planning permission was ever granted or requested for all the buildings used for dog breeding on the farm?
Surely the owner of the premises, himself once a dairy farmer, now switched to dog breeding (they call it diversification) must we aware that since the premises were licensed in 1998 for just 8 dogs that if the numbers of dogs are increased, at some stage over the years, (when a dog breeding sideline becomes a commercial business) that planning permission is required. Did he make enquires with the planning department? Was change of use from agriculture to dog breeding not a consideration, if buildings now used for dog breeding were previously used to house dairy cattle on this once active dairy farm?
What role has Carmarthenshire Public Protection Department played in this fiasco? They are responsible for licensing the premises and in 1998 they licensed the premises for just 8 dogs! What has happened since 1998? Did the owners notify the Council that they wished to change the conditions of their licence due to increasing the numbers of dogs on the premises every year to today's figure of 142 dogs? Did the licensing officer whilst carrying out their yearly inspections questioned the large number of dogs on the premises over and above 8 dogs listed in 1998? Many questions that remain unanswered but here is record of the licence figures.
2003 - 78 breeding bitches 1 dog 9 stud dogs
2004 - 58 breeding bitches 4 dogs 11 stud dogs
2005 - 98 breeding bitches 5 dogs 9 stud dogs
2006 - 88 breeding bitches 6 dogs 12 stud dogs
2007 - 81 breeding bitches 10 dogs 16 stud dogs
2008 - 89 breeding bitches 14 dogs 3 stud dogs
2009 - 95 breeding bitches 9 dogs 16 stud dogs
2010 -113 breeding bitches 4 dogs 4 stud dogs
2011 - 95 breeding bitches 33 dogs 14 stud dogs - Are these figures correct? Why have 33 dogs appeared, they are not listed as stud dogs but just dogs, are they perhaps breeding bitches placed in the wrong column?
The questions that need answering are:
Why has planning permission not requested by the owners or asked to be applied for by the Council until now?
Where are the exercise runs for the dogs? These should be attached to but separate from their sleeping quarters, it is not acceptable for Councils to licence premises on the assumption that dog breeders will allow free exercise to their dogs as appears to be the case here. It is well known that many do not and dogs live their life in confinement.
Why doesn't Carmarthenshire County Council place a ceiling on the numbers of dogs they allow a dog breeder to own and breed from on each breeding establishment?
Does Carmarthenshire Council ascertain before and at each yearly inspection whether adequate staff are employed and suitably qualified in animal welfare?
Why does Carmarthenshire Council allow these large commercial dog breeding establishments to operate without ensuring that all dogs used for breeding are screened under the BVA, KC screening tests for hereditary conditions known in each pedigree breed?
Not all of these questions are asked on the Council inspection reports but Councils can place extra conditions on a Dog Breeders Licence, providing it is expedient to the purpose of the Act. Therefore they should encourage good practice and introduce extra conditions that are beneficial to animal welfare on each of the premises they licence.
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