A dog grooming business has been refused permission by planning bosses to move into a larger, more sustainable location.

Scallywags Dog Grooming is currently based at the rear of the Brown Cow pub in Bridge Street, Chatburn, and has been operating there for the last four years.

The owners, David and Adele Clay, were looking to expand the business by taking over the ground floor of another property in Bridge Road.

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A planning statement submitted to Ribble Valley Borough Council said: “The business is now successfully established but requires extra space to provide further improvements, namely:

  • More spacious grooming area
  • A separate area in which to accommodate any waiting pet
  • A more suitable electrically operated rising bath for washing
  • A drying cabinet
  • A staff toilet

“The applicants are licensees of the adjacent Brown Cow public house, at the rear of which is a small, single roomed ancillary building which for the last four years has been utilised as a dog grooming business serving primarily the local community in Chatburn and its immediate surroundings.”

The proposed new building is a house further down Bridge Road, where they would use the ground floor and the first floor would remain as a one-bedroom flat.

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The statement continued: “The village centre location has already proved highly suitable for the existing dog grooming use, with no recorded problems relating to access, parking, or impact upon other properties. Chatburn is a sustainable village and its centre is already characterised by a mix of residential and business use.

“The business generates very little waste, with any trimmings capable of being bagged on a weekly basis and deposited in the commercial bins of the Brown Cow pub.

“The premises would be reconfigured and improved. No external alterations (other than general maintenance and the small sign for the grooming salon) will be required.”

However, the plans were rejected by the council, who raised just one point of issue.

A decision notice said: “The applicant has failed to provide sufficient information with respect to the impacts of noise arising from the proposed change of use and in the absence of such information the council is unable to comprehensively assess the potential impacts of the proposed development upon neighbouring residential amenity.”

The applicants have six months to appeal the council’s decision.