Barking from Denbighshire doggy day-care centre ‘won’t disturb neighbours’, owners claim

Barking at a doggy day-care and boarding centre won’t disturb neighbours, according to a planning application noise assessment.

Huw and Kim Edwards run the Four Paws Inn at Tyn Y Mynydd in Llanelidan and have submitted a retrospective planning application to Denbighshire County Council for a dog day-care and boarding centre.

The structure they are seeking permission to change the use of was formerly used to store feed and agricultural machinery but is now used as canine boarding units.

But a noise assessment carried out by E2 Consultants Ltd as part of the application concluded that the venture wouldn’t disturb neighbours.

The report states: “Using the BS8233 methodology for the noise impact, it is clear that there should be no adverse impact on the two closest NSRs. This is based on both the measured and the predicted noise impact.

“Using the South Holland District Council’s methodology and the measure of noise impactthe report returns the result that the adverse impact is unlikely.”

The Four Paws Inn is part of the Moonjoon Group Ltd, serving customers living in the areas of Ruthin, Denbigh, Mold, and the surrounding villages.

According to the application, the doggy day-care side of the business only opens weekends and looks after 25-30 dogs a day.

The company has around 500 customers and employs three full-time members of staff.

“The kennels are built to a high standard and are licensed and inspected annually by Denbighshire County Council and a certified veterinary surgeon,” a statement in support of the application reads.

“There is currently space for 17 dogs to sleep over as well as pens for five of our own dogs. Since the recent lockdowns and surgein pet ownerships, we’ve found a high demand for our services as personal and work commitments have restricted circumstances and families.

“A growing service has recently been our doggy day-care service where we collect owners’ dogs in our custom-built transport vans and bring the dogs back to our enclosed paddocks. This service runs alongside the boarding service.

“There they can play freely off the lead with like temperament dogs all day until they get loaded back later in the afternoonand returned home tired, content, and socialised.

“This provides great development and exercise benefits for the dogs and gives families more time for other commitments.

“As a result, at the end of the day, the whole family gets to spend more quality time together. Many of our customers tell us that this service alone is vital for their working lives.”

The letter concluded: “We are located quite remotely with no near neighbours. Trees and big hedgerows surround the property and grounds.

“Due to the nature of the services where dogs get to play freely all day under supervision, we expect noise levels to beconsiderably less than conventional kennel set-ups where dogs are penned or caged up for the majority of the day.”

The planning application will now go before Denbighshire County Council’s planning committee.

By Richard Evans – Local Democracy Reporter