Plans to build bungalows between two dog kennels without mains sewage have been thrown out by the council.

On Wednesday (August 15) a proposal to demolish Lakeview Kennels on Claverhambury Road, Waltham Abbey was put before Epping Forest District Council's planning sub-committee west.

In its place would stand five detached bungalows, which would sit beside five other commercial kennel sites.

Due to the remote nature of the site and its elevation, the bungalows would be services by five cesspits in the absence of functioning mains sewage.

Karren Lee, who trains explosive sniffer dogs and assists Essex Police from the nearby Claverhambury Kennels, spokes passionately about the issues of housing humans next to dogs.

She said: "Our main concern is about future complaints from the houses and how we will be protected from restrictions to our business as result of complaints to the council.

"We are part of the emergency services.

"We assist Essex Police with searching for vulnerable missing people.

"We have had 59 calls this year and we go out mostly at nighttime.

"We are disturbing out own dogs in number 6.

"They settle again but the initial noise when barking will disturb our neighbours."

Cllr Rikki Gadsby also raised concerns about the quality of the road leading up the kennels and the difficulty her ward's residents have in driving up them.

Cllr Sam Kane added: You are putting residential properties between two kennels.

"It's just asking for trouble further down the line. I am very uncomfortable with that."

At the end of the the debate the plans were thrown out as six councillors voted against and two voted in favour, with one abstention.