Objectors claim kennels and cattery could pose safety risk

Nine objectors and a representative from Aston-cum-Aughton Parish Council have written to Rotherham Council in opposition to the plans, which relate to a proposed development at Nickerwood Farm in Fiddle Neck Lane, close to junction 31 of the M1 motorway.

Farm owner David Green has applied to extend the existing stable block to form boarding kennels and a cattery, which would provide accommodation for 15 cats and 14 dogs.

If the plans are given the go-ahead at a committee meeting next week, a new stable block would be built out of corrugated steel, to provide 12 stables and a tack room, and a parking area for 11 cars would also be created.

In his application to Rotherham Council, architect Mark Smith – who submitted the planning application on behalf of Mr Green – says that the proposed stable block would "complement the neighbouring rural area."

He said: "The layout and design principles of the proposal have evolved following a careful assessment of the character and structure of the site, the surrounding area, demographics and planning policy documents. It is considered that the application site is therefore one that can provide additional employment or business, without creating incongruous features on the landscape."

Neighbours, however, say that the proposed kennels and cattery would be too close to people's homes, would create nuisance from "noise, mess and smells", the dogs would be a "safety hazard" and the unmade track which accesses the farm would be incapable of accommodating additional traffic.

Aston-cum-Aughton Parish Council, meanwhile, has objected to the proposal on the grounds of the increase in traffic and the potential impact on the rural landscape.

The parish council also says that there are "no very special circumstances" to warrant the plans being approved, which would be necessary as the farm lies within the green belt.

A Rotherham Council environmental health officer has also criticised the plans, saying that no information has been submitted detailing how waste from the site would be disposed of, and a noise assessment has also not been submitted. As a result, they say, the application should be refused on the grounds of lack of information.

Rotherham Council's town planners have come down on the side of objectors and advised councillors to refuse the plans at a committee meeting next Thursday, September 2.

In the report set to go before that meeting, the planners say that the development would be "materially detrimental to the openness and the visual amenities of the green belt".

The report adds that the existing driveway is "inadequate to cater for additional pedestrian or vehicular traffic that is likely to be generated."

The report adds: "By way of the generation of extraneous traffic, and all associated nuisance, and noise and smell from the proposed kennels and cattery, the proposals would result in severe detriment to the residential amenities of adjoining occupiers.

"By way of its location, and inadequate access arrangements, the proposals would be isolated, constitute unsustainable development, and result in highway danger.

"No very special circumstances have been submitted to clearly outweigh the harm to the green belt."

A final decision on the plans is set to be made at next Thursday's planning committee meeting, which begins at 9am in the Bailey Suite at Bailey House, Rawmarsh Road.