Animal physiotherapist Lisa Cleeton given go ahead to turn her stables into clinic

Lisa Cleeton, who has been working as a veterinary physiotherapist for 14 years, said that the coronavirus pandemic had made it harder to visit some of her clients.

And she added that increased demand for her service meant some animals faced a wait of up to four weeks to see her while in pain.

Applying for a change of use for the stables at her Prestonpans home from personal to business as a veterinary physiotherapy clinic, she said: “I have been running my veterinary physiotherapy business successfully for 14 years.

“Pre-Covid I travelled all over Scotland and the north of England treating horses and dogs. However, due to increase in demand, it is now more efficient for me to be based at the stables and have owners bring their horses and dogs to me.

“This will enable me to see more patients sooner. Currently, my waiting list is three to four weeks long. This is not the best as animals are usually in pain.”

Lisa, who lives at Bankton Steading, wants to turn the stables at the steading into the new physiotherapy clinic, with one part for dog treatments and the other for horses.

The vet physio is well known in the town, where her cat Rupert was a local celebrity.

Rupert, who had his own Facebook page with 1,500 followers, was regularly spotted sleeping in the local carpet shop and hanging out at the Co-op until he was banned after a complaint to East Lothian Council’s environmental health.

Rupert died in a road accident last month, sparking an outpouring of sadness, with flowers laid outside the Co-op.

The new clinic at Bankton will operate six days a week, 8am-6pm Monday to Friday and 8am-12.30pm on Saturdays.

Applying for the change of use of the stables into the clinic, Lisa said she expected up to 30 clients a week.

Planning officers approved the change of use, ruling the stables were 40 metres from the nearest neighbours and pointing out that no objections had been lodged.