PLANS for a dog hotel that had proved controversial with residents have been refused.

The £300,000 scheme, for Lower Upham, which some locals had feared would leave them plagued by noise was turned down unanimously by members of the Bishopstoke, Fair Oak and Horton Heath Local Area Committee.

Couple David and Katie Cunnea, who live on the site off Winchester Road, spent three years researching dog behaviour and consulted welfare and kennel design experts to come up with the hotel project, which would have had 15 kennels able to take up to 30 dogs.

Hotel suites were to have a sofa, television, radio and CCTV for owners to keep an eye on their dogs from afar as well a private garden.

Neighbours raised concerns about increased noise and disturbance, traffic, smell, the impact on neighbouring businesses and concern for the livestock in the neighbouring field.

The couple had told the Daily Echo that they would put in extensive measures to limit noise, including insulating and double glazing the building, building a sound barrier and not allowing noisy and aggressive dogs.

And they argued if they were doing their job properly the dogs should not need to bark.

The plans had been recommended for approval in a council officer’s report but councillors refused the scheme on the grounds of noise.

Katie, who made the case for the hotel at the meeting, said she believed councillors had been too afraid to support something that appeared unpopular so close to election time.

She said they also had not brought along their sound engineer to give evidence as they had been told they would only have five minutes to speak.

“We are a little shocked because all of the evidence was in our favour and every independent consultee concluded they should permit the application,” she said.

“We are disappointed with this injustice and are seeking legal advice.”