A BAD neighbour business in Poole has been given up to three months to find alternative premises.

The noise, litter, lorry nuisance and pollution has been concerning neighbours for the 10 months that Total Waste Ltd has been operating at Balena Close.

The waste paper business has no planning permission as the owners did not realise they needed to apply for change of use from light industrial, councillors heard.

Residents opposed the application, which included the erection of a brick wall to screen the rear yard from homes in Creekmoor Lane.

Sarah Lewis catalogued a range of noise and pollution problems and said: "Even with double glazed windows closed, lives are severely affected.

"My neighbour and I have had problems with rats," she said, adding: "A brick wall is not a solution to the problem."

Malcolm Brown, a director of Sibbett Gregory, representing the company, asked councillors not to issue an immediate stop notice.

"This would put the company out of business overnight with the loss of 15 jobs," he said.

"They would be in breach of contract of £1.9 million a year and unable to pay their rent and business rates."

He said: "A stop notice should be a last resort and used only in the most extreme circumstances. It's a draconian measure."

Mr Brown said improvements had been made to hours and ways of operation and urged a compromise, asking for six months to find other premises.

"What this company has done is wrong," said Cllr Jeff Allen. "It is a good thing they are trying to do better but they are in the wrong place and have upset a lot of people."

Committee chairman Cllr Mrs Ann Stribley said: "Members are plainly reluctant to put them out of business" and proposed an immediate enforcement notice and a stop notice with a three-month delay. Members refused the application and approved the notices.