About 15 people gathered outside Rugby Town Hall last Wednesday before members of the borough council's planning committee decided whether to allow kennels to be built at the Rugby Road stadium in Brandon.

Animal rights campaigners and local residents waited outside the hall with their dogs and placards, but were left appalled when all councillors approved the plans.

During the meeting Cllr. Doug Hodkinson (Lab, Earl Craven and Wolston) said: "I had to consider this very carefully and it is not a comfortable situation to be in.

"I am aware of the impact on the residential amenities but I am not opposed, in the end, to this."

Protesters are trying to stop the £14 million revamp of the site – which includes the re-introduction of greyhound racing after an absence of more than 15 years, a leisure centre and a Sunday market.

Animal rights campaigner Janet Cummings, of Tower Road, said: "All the tracks are closing in the country. It's not wanted here in Rugby, I cannot see any demand for it. It's a cruel industry. And the environment is another huge issue, the problems residents will have. It's like circus, animals entertaining for profit."

However, development manager Jeremy Heaver said: "We are on the same side. We both want to raise the standards of animal welfare within greyhound racing and we are spending an awful lot of money doing it."

Campaigner Abigail Jones brought her two rescued dogs to the protest. She said: "We're here to educate the public. It's profit that people are interested in. A lot of dogs are not wanted after they have finished racing."

After the meeting Janet Cummings said: "This is appalling. I'm not very pleased with the outcome, we put in letter after letter. We do not feel that democracy was being carried out but we will never give up."

Greyhound racing nights are due to start late March or April, but campaigners said their next focus will be objecting to the gaming licence.