Fife Council grant permission for cattery in Steelend

John Cowbrough, of West Saline Farm, was desperate to relocate to a plot in Steelend as he was "facing imminent eviction from the current residence".

The council gave consent for the erection of a timber cattery, with 16 cages, and the siting of a caravan on land next to 1 Midfield Terrace.

A planning statement on Mr Cowbrough's behalf insisted: "The business will be fully insured and licensed and aims to be a small scale, high quality establishment offering premium cat daytime/holiday care.

The empty plot of land at Midfield Terrace in Steelend. (Image: Google Maps)

"It is important from a noise pollution standpoint to stress this application is for the erection of a cattery and not a dog kennel which can produce a much higher decibel reading."

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The site is at the edge of Steelend, an empty plot where the village church used to stand, and where previous plans to build a house by a separate applicant were approved in 2018 but not taken forward.

The planning agent added: "Further to the removal of the church building the site has been unoccupied and had fallen into a dilapidated state for a number of years, as we understand, much to the local inhabitants' frustration."

They said the "24 hour on-site presence" was necessary for the health and wellbeing of the cats and added that the "caravan is required to offer 24 hour security for the cats that the owners/customers would demand".

The hours of operation will be 8.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday, and from 9am until noon on Saturday and Sunday.

The plans say "robust" noise reduction methods will be used and the agents added: "We would also stress that the building will used to house domestic cats in small controlled numbers, a maximum of 16 at any time, and as such we understand the resultant noise level should not be significant."