THE owner of a farm in Trawden has been given seven days to apply for planning permission for kennels or face prosecution.

Work to transform agricultural buildings at Slack Booth Farm, Hollin Hall, into kennels for greyhound breeding began in September. Nearby residents complained to Pendle Council and planning officers visited the site on September 9 and told the owner she had to apply for planning permission by October 14.

But the owner's representative, Alan Kinder, told Colne and District Committee the council's letter explaining what was required did not arrive until Wednesday and a planning application would be submitted by October 21.

People living on Hollin Hall turned up in force at a Trawden parish council meeting to voice their concerns about the development.

Mr Kinder said: "The owner contacted the council to ask if consent was necessary and was told it was not. It was only in September she was informed certain aspects require consent.

"It has never been my client's intention to undertake dog breeding as a commercial activity, only as a hobby."

But Boulsworth ward councillor David Robertson, who lives in Hollin Hall, questioned the owner's intentions for the site.

He said: "This has stirred up quite a lot of concern in that area.

"One of the things that poured petrol on the flames is the article in the Times Higher Education Supplement circulated to residents which clearly says this person is a retired college lecturer who has bought a plot of land and will shortly be earning as much from her dog breeding business as she was as a college lecturer."

But Mr Kinder confirmed that while one greyhound bitch had produced a litter and another was on the way, his client was not going into business.