A DOG grooming business that was operating without formal planning permission has been given approval and can also include day care.
Kathryn Davies has run Kabokane K9 Services from a commercial unit previously used for the maintenance and storage of HGVs at her home at Old Station House in Church Road, Talywain, Pontypool.
She made a retrospective application to Torfaen Borough Council for permission for the dog grooming and a licensed dog breeding business as well as to cover permission for a “doggy day care service”.
Doggy day care
The council’s planning department has approved the application which also includes alternations to the existing industrial building used for breeding and the day care business while the grooming service is based in a portable unit on the site which is also the location of the applicant’s home.
Planning officer Simon Pritchard said the changes to the building would have minimal impact, but how the businesses could affect neighbours would also have to be considered with one objection received.
His report stated the nearest home is Ms Davies’ and others are some distance from the site and given the nature of people dropping off, or collecting, dogs or bringing them for pre-booked grooming the number of vehicle trips isn’t considered unacceptable.
There were also no objections from the council’s highways or environmental health departments but it was noted the day care business will also require licensing.
Drop off and collection times will also be controlled by a planning condition.
28 dogs maximum
With all three now approved uses combined the maximum number of dogs on site at any one time will be 28.
The day care business will have seven kennels limited to a maximum of two dogs in each, but only if they are from the same owner, meaning it could hold up to 14, while the dog breeding business would have a maximum of 10 at one time and the grooming no more than four.
Staffing will increase to two full-time and one part-time. The earliest drop off for the doggy day care would be 8am and collection would be at the latest at 6pm from Monday through Sunday. The dog grooming would be open 9.30am to 4pm Monday, Wednesday and Friday.