A chiropractor’s work-from-home business may be forced to close after attracting 500 customers a month, sparking anger among neighbors.
Sophie Younghusband set up her chiropractic and wellness clinic out of an outbuilding in her parents’ back garden in Wimborne, Dorset.
The family reassured neighbors that it would be a “modest” work-from-home arrangement, employing one or two people as staff.
But the 29-year-old’s business has taken off and she now has eight staff working out of a renovated indoor pool house and sees 125 clients a week.
Neighbors initially tolerated the extra traffic, but things took a turn for the worse when a person nearly collided with a customer’s car coming out of the clinic.
The heated exchange is said to have ended with the client giving his neighbor the middle finger, which prompted the neighbor to lodge a complaint with the local council.
An investigation has been launched into Wimborne Wellness Center in Dorset, with Younghusband told it must apply for retrospective planning permission to continue operating.
Neighbors on Arrowsmith Road in Wimborne objected, saying the high number of cars passing by was dangerous. They argued that residential areas were not suitable places for business.
Sophie Younghusband stands at the entrance to her parents’ home and another building that houses her business.
Sophie Younghusband in one of the treatment rooms at Wimborne Wellness Center
Council planners agreed, but rejected the application citing “serious highway safety risks”.
Ms Younghusband previously said if she was forced to relocate her small team would be made redundant due to increased costs.
She plans to appeal the decision and will carry out a traffic study to monitor the number of cars entering and exiting the clinic in order to compile evidence for the Planning Inspectorate.
Younghusband, who recently won the Young Entrepreneur of the Year award at the Local Business Awards, said the last thing he wanted to do was offend anyone.
She said, “I try to provide the best service I can, and eight or nine people in my neighborhood actually use our service.”
“The business grew very quickly, but it happened naturally. I would say it was successful, but not out of control.
“I think there was an argument as the patient was leaving and they were giving me the middle finger. I didn’t see it, but I contacted the neighbors and apologized.
“As far as I know, that’s the only time there’s been a problem.
Holmes and Wimborne Wellness Center (circled, next to Arrowsmith Road, Wimborne)
“It would be really hard to find space to offer everything we have here, and given the cost of having to redundant staff, it would be devastating.
“It would feel like I had to start all over again, but I don’t know if I could do that. I’ve worked hard to get the business up and running.”
The former pool house and changing rooms have been converted into seven treatment rooms, a yoga studio, staff rooms and reception area.
The planning application proposed weekday working hours of 8am to 7pm, with no use on weekends, but the Wimborne Wellness Center website states that classes could start as early as the morning. It starts at 6:30 and states that the event will take place over the weekend.
Neighbors have complained of constant noise from “car doors slamming and the gravel parking lot.”
“They’re nice people. We’ve actually used the store,” said one neighbor, who did not wish to be named. But it’s only grown exponentially, and they’re actually victims of their own success.
“It went from just a few cars to being done constantly, with really dangerous curves and cars coming in and going out all day long.
“We don’t have enough parking to accommodate the number of people who use the store, and noise is also an issue. It’s a gravel road, so it’s quite noisy, with customers coming in with loud music, revving engines, and screaming children.”
Sophie Younghusband on the doorstep of a business that could be forced to close
“It’s just the wrong place, people have been grinning and baring it for a long time. But it needs to move now, and it needs a proper business premises.”
Another person, who also requested anonymity, said the increase in traffic from the business was “beyond a joke.”
They said: “We’ve gotten busier and busier, so last year we added a studio and now rent it out to anyone 24/7 for photo shoots, classes, and weekend retreats.”
“There’s also a dedicated office space that she rents out now, and there’s also some kind of Botox business listed there. It’s beyond a joke.”
“Given the amount of traffic going in and out of there, we don’t want anything to happen to anyone from a safety standpoint, but we just feel like the business has outgrown the premises.
“The feel of the road has completely changed. They advertise it to their customers as a very restful place, a place of peace and tranquility, but where is our peace and quiet?”
Residents Andrew and Susan Clark said the winding country road had no pavement or streetlights and was not suitable for business.
Sandra Blaney said she wasn’t initially opposed to having a small business across the street from her home, but they “took advantage” of her goodwill.
Neighbors complained that the noise from the gravel parking lot was a constant nuisance.
She further added, “This business has been operating for several years. When the chiropractic clinic opened, we believed it would remain a small family business. It is not a very large operation.
“Given the volume of business and the unsuitability of the site, the clinic feels the time is right to find a new facility rather than forcing neighboring residents to practice in this quiet and popular area.”
Fellow resident Veronica Kelly said: “When Wimborne Wellness Center was set up, we understood it would be a small business with only one or two employees, and in fact very little. “It was a family-run business.” We have grown exponentially over the past year.
“We feel this is rather taking advantage of all of us and changing the feel of the neighborhood, especially in that part of Arrowsmith Road.”
