IT COULD be training cats and dogs near Steelend with plans to start a new business on an old refuse tip east of the village.

Krzysztof Wydra, from Blue Lagoon UK, has applied to change the use of a piece of land to allow for kennels, cattery units and a caravan on site, as well as a perimeter fence and an access road.

The company owns the patch of rough grazing and scrubland north of the B914, sandwiched between two woodlands, which is within the boundary of the old Steelend Colliery.

Maps show the area was later used as a rubbish dump.

A statement submitted on behalf of the applicant by planning agent Peter MacLeod explained: "The purpose of the kennels is a breeding business only, not boarding or daycare.

"All current breeding dogs stay at their currently licensed premises away from the application site (at Fieldfare View in Dunfermline).

"However, the plan is to have all breeding dogs on site for business use in the near future. They are also planning to have breeding cats on site."

He continued: "The application site was bought by the company in March 2021 to expand the dog breeding programme and to give a bigger exercise and training area for our St Bernard’s, Japanese Akitas and Bernese Mountain Dogs.

"The land is just under two hectares and it is without any close residential neighbours, which gives a fantastic opportunity to build kennels with a huge outside area for dogs.

"It is also planned to move the current breeding cattery to the site to expand the ongoing cattery breeding program – the business breeds Ragdolls, British Shorthairs, Maine Coons and Siberian cats."

The tenant would be Silesia Scotland Ltd. Mr Wydra, and Magdalena Orzeg-Wydra, are company directors and also hold the same positions within Blue Lagoon Ltd. They have been Fife Council-registered licensed breeders since 2016.

While the plans are for a caravan on site, Mr MacLeod added that Defra breeding rules stated that "responsible people should be available on the cattery and kennel 24 hours a day and seven days a week".

He said: "The static caravan is the minimum requirement to cover the social requirements for people taking care of the animals.

"In the longer term, a more permanent facility may be introduced."

A coal mining report was included with the application, with the agent explaining: "The site is in an area that could be affected by underground mining in three seams of coal at shallow to 120 metres depth, last worked in 1923. Within the boundary of the property there is one mine entry."