Row over rescue centre continues

Councillors have delayed a decision over an animal rescue centre in Derbyshire threatened with closure.

The Second Chance shelter, which has operated for two years in Chellaston, is applying for retrospective planning.

Manager Jo Fairbrother said she had not realised planning was necessary to operate the centre, which has rescued 900 dogs in the past year.

The city council planning committee decided to defer its decision until a site visit takes place.

Noise complaints

Campaigners supporting the shelter took their dogs to a rally at the city's Council House before a meeting on Thursday afternoon.

Some neighbours have complained about the noise from the shelter.

Planning committee chairman Robin Wood said: "We can't ignore complaints. It may well be that there are other reasons for the complaints and we can overrule them.

"We want to have a look, have a smell and have a listen.

"If it is all well and good and is not causing a nuisance, we can grant planning permission."

Ms Fairbrother said: "It is an agricultural farm and it has been a farm for more than a hundred years, so we didn't think we needed planning permission."

She said she would fight to keep the shelter open but promised that all the dogs at her centre would be found homes if it was forced to close.