A COUPLE were refused permission to build dog kennels at their country lane house because councillors feared the noise would be a nuisance to neighbours.

Wycombe District Council's planning applications panel refused the application by Mr and Mrs Slade of Barn Cottage in Cryers Lane, High Wycombe, at its meeting on May 2.

Committee members debate the suitability of the kennels in the lane after being told that the boarding houses would be located a few hundred yards from the nearest neighbours.

Cllr David Cox (Con, Hazlemere East) argued that the residents lived so far away that the dogs would not have posed a problem but others were not so sure.

But Cllr Julia Langley (Con, Flackwell Heath), who voted against the application, said: "Nothing is worse than having a dog barking 24 hours a day." She added that the couple's plans to offer commercial grooming services at the kennels would create further problems.

Cllr David Carroll (Con, Kingshill) agreed and said that the noise would be horrendous.

Cllr Cox added that he recognised that noise could be a problem but suggested that it could be monitored by environmental health.

He also underlined that the kennels would only house six dogs. "Members of the public often keep two, three and more dogs which does not cause a problem for many people," he said.

Mr and Mrs Slade declined to comment.