Claims of verbal threats and barking as bulldog breeders lose their planning offer

A dog breeding business was denied a building permit after it had been in business for five years.

Stockton councilors voted 9-4 to decline the retrospective offer on Norton Road in Norton on Wednesday afternoon.

The request to breed up to 16 French Bulldogs in the back of the house sparked a series of objections from neighbors – with concerns over barking, fecal odor and the number of animals on the site.

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The planning committee also heard how there had been outbreaks between business owners and some neighbors – with claims for property damage, verbal threats and wood throwing.

The council’s planning reports showed how sound and heat insulation had been installed in the dog toilets – with no objections to the authority’s environmental health team’s offer of change in use.

But residents shared their concerns about the noise disrupting their lives.

Resident Robert Oyston said he had lived nearby for 29 years without a problem – but now felt threatened by “the atmosphere and by verbal threats” and claimed his property had been damaged.

“It brought the soul out of our house,” he added.

There were also objections from Granville Grove.

Derrick Smiles said they had been “inundated with barking dogs”.

“Throughout the summer all you can hear are dogs playing and barking,” he added.

“Yes, the dogs bark, but that’s how much and how long it goes on.”

Debra Smiles told the committee that they bought their house for their garden but could not “sit there anymore”.

“I haven’t had one for the past two summers because of the stool odor quite regularly at lunchtime and at tea time,” she said.

“It means you can’t enjoy a meal or a drink and it lasts for hours.”

Ms Smiles also said she had faced “a lot of assault” from the candidates.

She added: “I don’t need the hassle anymore – if we had known there would be a kennel there, we never would have bought this place.”

Resident Ann Robinson recalled when the property was a taxi rank.

“Now it’s full of dogs – and it’s driving me crazy,” she said.

“I just can’t understand how so many animals can be kept in sheds.”

Passion for small dogs

Steve Barker, agent on behalf of the applicants, explained how the site had obtained a license from the council since 2016.

Mr Barker said: “This is by no means a new business, but a stable business, regularly inspected by your animal care team, and a business that has grown from their hobby and their passion for small dogs. “

The officer added that the owners had upgraded the facility with a secure outdoor exercise area and insulation.

He noted how satisfied the council’s environmental health team was with the noise surveys carried out.

And he added that the breeding facility was next to a gas station and a jet wash on one of Stockton’s busy roads.

“With all this background activity, it is a little surprising that some neighbors are upset by what they think is the noise from the premises,” said Mr Barker.

“There’s a tremendous amount of noise out there that has nothing to do with the business – and that would certainly be a lot less than returning the site to a general auto shop.”

The officer added that there had never been any noise, odor or pest problems associated with the business.

Mr Barker also called objections to the video surveillance a “distraction” – dog theft of “national criminal concern”.

And he told the panel that the camera system caught opponents throwing wood at the candidates.

“This is something a good neighbor would not do,” Mr Barker said.

“My clients are still deciding whether to take these images to the police for further investigation.”

Space debate

Environmental Health Officer Stephanie Landles said her team had investigated the property since 2016 – with 15 complaints from five separate properties during that time.

She told councilors they investigated whenever there was a complaint – but found nothing to cause council to take further action.

Ms Landles said: ‘Since 2020 we have not been able to go to the site to install noise recording equipment in the homes – but we have done additional in-person surveillance from the residents’ street.

“We found, given the evidence, that there was nothing we could do.

“We have also had several intermittent visits with the Planning Officer and find the isolation and schedule they have for the dogs to be appropriate.”

Cllr Sylvia Walmsley said she was “appalled” at the size of the areas the dogs were in – adding that she sympathized with the residents because of the noise.

“I am a dog owner myself and know how irritating they can be to others at times,” she added.

Councilor Lynn Hall was worried about the anger of the neighbors.

But Cllr Paul Kirton said licensing teams have visited the site with a vet and breeders have returned “full notes” in the past.

President Cllr Norma Stephenson said she had visited the site for an hour and a half before the meeting to get a feel for it.

She added: “I didn’t hear anything from the breeding barn until they opened the door – and obviously the dogs bark like mad when you walk in.

“But the minute she closed the door you couldn’t hear her because they’re soundproof.”

Cllr Stephenson added that the pens were connected so the dogs could run.

“I went to the back of the property where the dogs do their business and couldn’t smell a thing,” she said.

After 20 minutes of debate, the committee agreed to reject the candidacy.

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