Animal welfare campaigner ‘deeply concerned’ about plans for a puppy farm

Bini Pitwell, from Woodhall Spa, spoke to the Local Democracy Reporting Service about a plan for a dog breeding site in Minting, near Horncastle.

Miss Pitwell is also the co-founder of Communities Against Factory Farming (CAFF) and has campaigned against plans for poultry farms across Lincolnshire – including in Toynton St Peter, near Spilsby and Whaplode Drove, near Spalding.

Applicant William Tidd had applied to East Lindsey District Council (ELDC) for permission for the change of use of an existing agricultural building into a dog breeding business on land off Lodge Lane.

Dogs and kennels are currently set up in the agricultural building and a dog breeding business has been operating from the site since 2022.

Mr Tidd is seeking permission from ELDC to ‘regularise’ a dog breeding business at the site.

Under the plans, there would be a total of 14 pens (including whelping pens). Outdoor runs are also proposed, as well as a dog exercise area.

ELDC originally refused the application in September 2025 following animal welfare concerns – but the applicant has since appealed this ruling and the Planning Inspectorate is currently considering this application.

Miss Pitwell told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that it would set a dangerous precedent if the application gets approved.

She said: “It’s definitely a concern if the appeal is approved. It invalidates the concerns of many local residents, members of the public and the councillors themselves.

“It’s deeply concerning that it was unanimously refused on animal welfare grounds and then it could be approved.

“I wouldn’t understand that process – and it would ignore the stress and the welfare of local residents.

“It’s a public interest matter as well because of overbreeding and rescue charities are completely overwhelmed.”

Miss Pitwell explained that she was concerned about the conditions in which these dogs would be housed.

She added: “I’m just very concerned by the conditions in which the dogs were kept – housed within a windowless agricultural building with no natural light, no direct access to outdoors, no temperature controls, no evidence of enrichment which one of the councillors even said so herself when they went for the site visit.”

Chairman of Minting and Gautby Parish Council, Eric Clark, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the parish council has also opposed the application.

Mr Clark added: “Dog breeding on a larger scale is basically considered a bit of a social evil these days because it’s generally considered that it’s impossible to produce dogs that are going to be civilised members of society if they’re being bred on that scale.”

He went on to say that the scale of the proposed development was also an issue.

Mr Clark added: “We are concerned that they’re not being reared in suitable conditions, quite frankly.

“It’s basically puppy farming. It’s not a small scale. It’s not like somebody having one dog and really looking after them.

“Quite frankly, puppies need house training and that’s not possible on a larger scale. We just think they’re going to be dogs that are going to become a social problem.”

ELDC said the matter was now with the Planning Inspectorate and it couldn’t comment on the matter.

The agent for the applicant, Charles Holt from FCG Accounting Ltd and The Farm Consultancy Group, said he didn’t wish to comment, but pointed out that ELDC planning officers had originally recommended that the application should be granted, subject to conditions.

The Planning Inspectorate told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that an inspector has been appointed to conduct a site visit – which has been “pencilled in” to take place tomorrow (Tuesday April 21).

A final decision on the application will be made at a later date.