THE owner of a rescue centre embroiled in a legal battle over its future has told council bosses they will be responsible for finding homes for 80 dogs if it closes.
AA Dog Rescue, in Burnham Road, Latchingdon, has lost its appeal against two enforcement notices served by Maldon District Council.
The centre, which has rescued over 1,500 dogs in the three years since it opened, was originally told it must cease operating as a rescue centre by October 8.
The notices said the dog rescue had changed the use of the land, without planning permission, from an equestrian site to equestrian, retail and dog rescue site.
But owners Charley Nathan and Karen James argued that there was no material difference between use for horses and use for dogs, and also denied the retail element of the notice.
However, planning inspector Diane Lewis upheld the council’s ruling.
AA Dog Rescue appealed to the High Court but this was also unsuccessful.
Now Ms Nathan has vowed to fight on and is submitting one final planning application to Maldon District Council.
The new plans, submitted last Tuesday, include new walls and ceilings to combat noise, double doors and also a new compound to house dogs in quarantine.
Ms Nathan, who is waiting for the latest application to be validated, said she felt let down.
She said: “I trusted the council before all of this.
"I told them I don’t any more. If they decide to enforce [the notice] they have got to find homes for 80 dogs.”
Ms Nathan said the current planning application was the last shot at getting permission and if it failed the dog rescue would be moved.
She added; “I told the council within two weeks [of it being refused] everything will be moved.
"The council will have no need to spend any public money to enforce it.
"If the plans don’t go through it will be turned into a pig, turkey and peacock farm.”
Ms Nathan said the centre would be rehoming the free roaming Mayland peacocks.
A COUNCIL says it is “disappointed” a dog rescue centre has continued to import dogs despite facing a trail over allegations barking dogs were causing a nuisance.
AA Dog Rescue owners Charley Nathan and Karen James appeared before Colchester Magistrates’ Court on October 11 accused of failing to comply with a noise abatement notice issued by the council in November.
The charges claim the centre, on Burnham Road, failed to comply with the notice on six occasions between February 13 and July 27. A trial will take place in January.
A spokesman for Maldon District Council said: “The case between Maldon District Council v Charley Nathan and Karen James of AA Dog Rescue, Oldfield Lodge, Burnham Road, Latchingdon was heard at Colchester Magistrates Court on 11 October 2016. The case has been put forward for trial in January 2017.
“It is disappointing that despite the ongoing matters, AA Dog Rescue has continued to import dogs from overseas having received a shipment of 18 dogs on Saturday, October 8.”
