Plans for beagle farm rejected in ‘victory for public opinion’

The controversial plans which attracted tens of thousands of objections were turned down by East Riding Council’s planning committee after hearing it would blight the lives of residents in the tiny coastal village of Grimston, in Holderness.

But B&K Universal, which runs the site, used for nearly half a century as an animal research facility, said the decision was putting 40 jobs at risk and they would consider moving to a “more enterprising” location.

The plans, which campaigners said would have seen as many 300 breeding dogs – each producing litters of five – housed at Grimston, saw opposition from celebrities including Ricky Gervais, naturalist Chris Packham and radio presenter Mark Radcliffe.

Campaigners from the National Anti-Vivisection Society (NAVS) say science is moving away from testing on dogs, with numbers falling significantly in recent years. Most dogs used in experiments are killed afterwards.

NAVS chief executive Jan Creamer said: “East Riding Council has made the right decision to reject plans to breed beagles for experiments in Grimston. The council has shown that using dogs in experiments is quite literally a dying industry.”

But yesterday moral and ethical concerns were put on one side, with councillors only allowed to discuss the proposals on planning grounds.

A challenge by the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection, which pointed out that B&K would not be providing the outside runs that EU law now say should be provided “where possible”, was also put to one side as a piece of “non-planning legislation”.

As well as concern about large vehicles squeezing through narrow country lanes – one recently snagged an electric cable – and fear of demonstrators returning, villager Cindy de Vries said there was a basic issue of trust.

A Grade One listed wall surrounding the site had been topped with razor wire, and perimeter security fencing added, without planning permission.

She said: “B&K have added structures without permission and the Grade One listed wall has been damaged and neglected for many years with no action from the council. Residents therefore do not trust the company and it speaks volumes that there is no masterplan for B&K. How do we know what they plan to do next?”

Although B&K has said there has only been a single silent protest in the past four years, Mrs de Vries said three policemen attended a recent parish council meeting.

At yesterday’s meeting, around a dozen people in the public gallery were outnumbered by security staff. She said: “Policing costs will increase in order to protect the village from potential violence. All of this has increased residents’ stress levels and this is detrimental to our health.”

However B&K said residents had “shot themselves in the foot” by refusing an application that would have reduced traffic, safeguarded existing jobs and created 10 more. A statement said: “We will be considering ways to raise competitiveness and diversification that do not require planning permission, but will generate more local traffic – including additional heavy vehicles.

“These routes might also demand more intensive on-site operations, including light and noise emissions.

“Other options include re-submission, an appeal or moving from the East Riding to a more enterprising, supportive location - at the cost of all local jobs and much work for many of the area’s businesses in upcoming years.”

While plans to expand the facility were refused, B&K was given permission to retain security measures, though they will have to replace razor wire with electrified wire on the inside and a security camera will be moved.