Dog day care plans for former Lockerbie pub

PERMISSION is being sought to turn a now-closed Lockerbie pub into a house with a dog day care business.

Time was called at The Brig, in Bridge Street, on Hogmanay.

As they shut the doors, landlords Paul and Caroline Bell thanked everyone for their support during their 12 and a half year tenure.

Of the closure, they said: “It’s been a very hard and emotional decision for us, however our customers, friends and family have been a great support (even the ones who are absolutely devastated).

“We’re so very humbled and blown away with the amount of cards, flowers and gifts we have received. It’s time now for us to move on with our next chapter.”

And that involves turning the pub into a family home, incorporating the upstairs flat they have been living in, along with a new dog business in the former pub kitchen and toilets.

A planning application was lodged with Dumfries and Galloway Council last October and is currently under review.

In it the family set out their plans, saying: “With the closure of the public house, it will prioritise our family time to concentrate on our new business venture of dog accommodation and dog day care, to provide the community a place where dogs can come to be at a place where it is home from home.

“It is our desire to stay within the walls of the property and maintain it well, while also providing another community need.”

However, officials always consider pub closures carefully, due to them being deemed community facilities.

Case officer Clare Ingram explained: “In considering proposals which seek to reuse or redevelop a community facility for another purpose, the council will need to be satisfied that: the facility is surplus to the needs of the community; or there would be an overall community gain from a development and the particular loss of land or facilities will have no significant effect on the overall provision of facilities in the locality; or alternative provision or equivalent community recreational benefit is made available at a suitable location within the local area

“In the case of a commercial facility, alternative uses will only be considered favourably by the council if it can be demonstrated that, despite marketing the site for at least 12 months, there has been no viable interest from other commercial operators.”

In response, the Bells explained The Brig has been on the market for two years and six months without any viable interest.

Mr Bell further pointed out that footfall at the pub had ‘declined massively’ in recent years, adding: “There are many reasons for this, however the change in the way people socialise since covid and also the way people spend their surplus money has had a massive effect on pubs and the hospitality sector in general. We have noticed a decline in the last four years, however it is now apparent it is surplus to the needs of the community or we would not be applying for the change of use.”