An animal sanctuary that has been fighting a battle with a council to remain open has been refused planning permission.

Happy Pants Ranch near Sittingbourne retrospectively applied to change the use of its land to continue running the animal sanctuary.

Amey James talks about her disappointment but vows to fight on

The sanctuary, which houses around 400 livestock, is run by Amey James and partner Phil Greenhalgh.

However, concerns over the noise of animals, including 120 cockerels, has disturbed nearby residents who issued several complaints against the sanctuary.

These were raised at a tense meeting of Swale council's planning committee last night. (Thursday, April 7)

In a statement to the committee, Amey said some of the allegations against the sanctuary, including escaped animals, were unfounded.

She also claimed the sanctuary provided more benefit to the community than damage. But planning officers were alarmed about rubble that had been left next to a nearby ancient woodland called Hawes Wood.

A decision was first expected in December but councillors gave more time to the sanctuary hoping that more mitigation around noise and the woodland could keep the farm open.

However, Cllr Mike Dendor (Con, Kemsley) said the charity had had its chance saying: “I felt they had a chance, it seemed we needed to show some compassion and do more to mitigate.

“However, nothing has happened. They had four months to come up with something.

“A lot of the biodiversity has been destroyed, the woodland has been treated abysmally.”

A post on the Happy Pants Facebook page after the meeting, said: "Huge and heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported The Ranch tonight and every night. Devastatingly we were refused planning permission to stay."

This morning she vowed to fight on and appeal.

She said: "I promised these animals when I took them on it would be forever and I wouldn't be giving up on them, rehoming them or sending them somewhere else so I have to keep my word to them and keep fighting and battling on.

"God knows where they will all go if I don't. The reason we've got them is that no one wanted them in the first place."

She added: "The animals won't know anything about this and will be oblivious and happy and living their best lives as normal but behind the scenes I will be appealing the decision.

"I've had some wonderful offers from solicitors who have said they will help me fight the case and look into any discrepancies made by the council. Hopefully we might win."

She stressed the charity had no money to find an alternative spot but admitted: "If someone offered us a piece of land somewhere else, or I won the Lottery, I'd get out of their hair."

She said the wait for the decision had been stressful and last Friday she went to hospital with chest pains.

"This has taken a massive toll on my personal health and my mental health is pretty low," she admitted. "I hope the ranch picks me up again. It's good at dealing with low moods."

The saga began when the couple moved onto 20 acres near Hawes Woods - ancient woodland at High Oak Hill off Iwade Road - at Bobbing last January.

They took with them more than 400 livestock and now have 22 pigs, seven dogs, 32 cats, 25 turtles, two tortoises, a flock of 22 geese and 30 ducks, 120 cockerels, 35 chickens, nine cows, 15 sheep, 17 goats, two emus, 35 guinea pigs, three snakes, two lizards, four ponies, one horse, a peacock and 50 goldfish.

Since then they have been hit by a string of complaints, one of which ended in them being served with a noise notice for having nuisance cockerels, geese and cows.

They were also told to stop using possibly contaminated waste to build roadways.

The application received 29 letters of support and two objections, one of which claimed: "In its fervent rush to illegally occupy this land using innocent animals as grounds, this company has killed more wild animals than any others they will ever save."

Another said: "Residents cannot safely walk down our own street for fear of getting run over or attacked by one of their escaped animals."

One supporter responded: "I’ve never been attacked by a farm animal. Sounds like nonsense when you’re surrounded by fields of sheep which could attack you which is nothing to do with the ranch. It could possibly be the most ridiculous objection I’ve ever heard."

Last night, councillors voted to refuse permission for the change of use with nine in favour of refusal, five against and one abstention.