A PLANNING inspector has overturned Bradford Council's decision to refuse plans for a cattery in Keighley.

In June the Council's Keighley and Shipley Area Planning Panel refused an application for a small scale cattery for 10 cats on the grounds of Beltrees on Occupation Lane, on the outskirts of the town.

The cattery building has already been built, and the plans had been criticised by Councillor Adrian Farley (Lab, Keighley West) and Keighley Town Council.

The committee decided the business would lead to an unacceptable increase in traffic on narrow Occupation Lane.

Applicant Gemma Andrews appealed that decision, and a government appointed planning inspector has granted that appeal.

Keighley cattery plans refused over highways fears

Inspector J Hunter dismissed concerns about traffic on the road, adding: "I visited the appeal site at approximately 11:15 hours and moved around the site and surrounding area on foot for around 30 minutes. Whilst I do appreciate that this was a snap shot in time, I did not see any traffic using Occupation Lane and only saw one vehicle travelling south on Cambourne Way.

"I acknowledge that Occupation Lane is in a poor state of repair, particularly to the east of the property and that it is a bridleway without the benefit of pedestrian footways.

"However, the proposal is for a very small-scale cattery business, the scale of which would be limited to the number of cat pens available.

"Even if all 10 pens were occupied the owners of the cats would be unlikely to arrive at or leave the site at the same time.

"At any one time, I do not consider that traffic movements associated with the cattery would be significant and in fact any traffic movements would likely be sporadic."