Concerns related to AFS Herefordshire
Case reference EIR2026/01615
Received 10 July 2026
Published 7 August 2026
Request
I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and, where applicable, the Environmental Information Regulations 2004.
Please provide any information held by Herefordshire Council relating to the pet crematory operated by Animal Funeral Services in Litfield House, Kington HR5 3HX Herefordshire, including for the previous five years:
* Records of inspections carried out by the council.
* Any environmental health reports or inspection findings.
* Records of complaints received relating to the premises, including complaints concerning smoke, odour, emissions, noise, waste disposal, or the operation of the crematory (with any personal information redacted).
* Copies of any warning letters, improvement notices, enforcement notices, or other regulatory action taken by the council.
* Details of any environmental permits, consents, licences, or approvals held by the business, where held by the council.
* Correspondence between the council and the operator relating to compliance with environmental or public health requirements.
* Copies of any reports or assessments relating to pollution, nuisance, emissions, or public health associated with the premises.
Where any information is exempt from disclosure, please provide the remaining information with appropriate redactions and explain the exemption relied upon.
If any of the requested information is held by another public authority, I would be grateful if you could advise me accordingly or transfer the request where appropriate.
I would prefer to receive the information electronically by email.
Thank you for your assistance. I look forward to your response within the statutory time limit.
Response
I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and, where applicable, the Environmental Information Regulations 2004.
Please provide any information held by Herefordshire Council relating to the pet crematory operated by Animal Funeral Services in Litfield House, Kington HR5 3HX Herefordshire, including for the previous five years:
Records of inspections carried out by the council.
Any environmental health reports or inspection findings.
Records of complaints received relating to the premises, including complaints concerning smoke, odour, emissions, noise, waste disposal, or the operation of the crematory (with any personal information redacted).
Copies of any warning letters, improvement notices, enforcement notices, or other regulatory action taken by the council.
Details of any environmental permits, consents, licences, or approvals held by the business, where held by the council.
Correspondence between the council and the operator relating to compliance with environmental or public health requirements.
* Copies of any reports or assessments relating to pollution, nuisance, emissions, or public health associated with the premises.
Where any information is exempt from disclosure, please provide the remaining information with appropriate redactions and explain the exemption relied upon.
If any of the requested information is held by another public authority, I would be grateful if you could advise me accordingly or transfer the request where appropriate.
I would prefer to receive the information electronically by email.
Thank you for your assistance. I look forward to your response within the statutory time limit.
Answer: Information regarding the pet crematory operated by Animal Funeral Services is considered to be exempt under Regulation 12(5) (b) of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004, in that disclosure would adversely affect the council's ability to conduct an inquiry or investigation.
Regarding the public interest in disclosing the information weighed against the public interest in maintaining the exception, I have taken the following factors into consideration:
The public interest in disclosing the information:
The public have a need to scrutinise decisions made by public authorities in order for decisions to be open and transparent, particularly around what action the council has taken or plans to take regarding the pet crematory operated by Animal Funeral Services.
The public interest in not disclosing the information:
This particular matter is currently 'live' and the situation is ongoing. Disclosure would prejudice any current or future actions that may be being contemplated
The council requires space to make decisions away from public scrutiny which would have the potential to prejudice the investigations by introducing pressures of pre-judgements and opinions not based on evidence.
Providing further information would reveal the council's strategy when conducting investigations of this nature, and this would prejudice future investigations of a similar nature in that those under investigation would have had the opportunity to prepare or conceal knowing what to expect during an investigation.
I have decided on balance that the public interest in not releasing the information outweighs the public interest in disclosure.
Documents
This is Herefordshire Council's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.
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