COUNCILLORS will vote next week on whether a dog boarding business can continue to operate from its current premises.

The owners of a detached bungalow in Newfield, near Chester-le-Street, have applied for retrospective planning permission to use their residential property to look after up to six dogs.

The business in Newfield Road have been in operation for approximately four years, offering both day care and holiday boarding for dogs, but were recently inspected by officers from Durham County Council’s environmental health department, following a complaint about noise.

A formal planning application to change the building’s use has since been lodged by the owners.

The council’s environmental health department and a neighbour have submitted objections to the proposal and planning officers are recommending that the application be refused.

Members of the council’s Area Planning Committee (North) will vote on the application when they meet at County Hall, in Durham, on Thursday.