A charity is looking for permission to move its cat themed cafe into Falkirk town centre and is asking the local authority to consider a “reduction in the applicable planning fee”.

Becky-Lee Donnelly, of Kit-Tea Cafe and Rescue, lodged an application with Falkirk Council on August 12, which was validated on August 21, looking for permission to change the use of the premises at 33 High Street, Falkirk.

The online planning documents stated the Kit-Tea Cafe and Rescue charity were looking to move to a new premises.

“Our move to 33 High Street represents a significant commitment to Falkirk town centre and will allow us to expand the reach of our work throughout Falkirk and the wider Forth Valley communities.

Becky-Lee Donnelly hopes Falkirk Council will allow the Kit-Tea Cafe and Rescue charity to move its operation into the High Street premises (Picture: Submitted)

placeholder image — Becky-Lee Donnelly hopes Falkirk Council will allow the Kit-Tea Cafe and Rescue charity to move its operation into the High Street premises (Picture: Submitted)

“Our organisation is unusual because it brings together two areas of charitable work which can have a significant local impact – animal welfare and human wellbeing.

“Our new premises will allow us to expand work, including rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming cats from Falkirk and surrounding Forth Valley communities, supporting stray, abandoned and vulnerable cats, providing practical animal-welfare support and education.

"For some people, attending a conventional community group can itself feel intimidating. Animals can provide a natural connection and a shared interest which makes conversation and social interaction easier.

“Our new premises will allow us to develop this aspect of our work considerably. We want 33 High Street to be somewhere where someone can walk through the door because they love cats but leave having made a human connection too.

"The additional space at 33 High Street will allow us to develop a dedicated rescue area, separate from the public cat lounges. Our ambition is therefore not simply to operate a cat café – we want to build a sustainable local charity which can become part of the animal-welfare support network available to communities throughout Falkirk and Forth Valley.

"We are also making a significant commitment to Falkirk High Street at a time when town centres need organisations willing to invest in them and give people new reasons to visit.

“The move will bring a substantial High Street property into active long-term use. Our intention is for 33 High Street to become more than premises from which a charity operates.

"We want it to develop into a recognisable and valued Falkirk community asset."

The document then goes on to request a “reduction in the applicable planning fee”.

“Our request is simply that, where discretion does exist, consideration is given to the not-for-profit nature of our organisation and the public, community, health and wellbeing, animal welfare and town centre benefits that the project is intended to deliver.

“We believe 33 High Street provides an opportunity to create something genuinely different for Falkirk and the wider Forth Valley area – a registered charity combining animal rescue, animal welfare, volunteering, education, community participation, social connection and animal assisted wellbeing within one sustainable organisation.

“We are investing in Falkirk High Street because we believe in its future. In return, we hope Falkirk Council can support a local charity which is committed to reinvesting its resources, energy and income back into the animals and communities that it exists to serve.”