A livestock farmer who has created a dog exercise field on agricultural land without planning consent is seeking permission to use the site, saying it will a provide a secure place for owners who are worried about having their pet stolen.
Martin Dennison has lodged a proposal with Hambleton District Council to change of five acres of farmland south-east of Northallerton, near Thornton le Beans, to allow up to eight dogs to be walked at a time.
The retrospective application states the site would be enclosed by a 1.8m high post and metal mesh fence and used by members of the public in pre-booked 50-minute slots to exercise their dogs between 7am and 8pm.
The move follows a website being launched for the 5 Acres Canine Field venture, which features numerous reviews from dog owners who have used the facilities.
It also follows a scheme for another plan to convert a large area of farmland into a dog exercise field at nearby South Kilvington being approved by the authority, despite objections from residents over the loss of agricultural land, safety concerns and the availability of places to walk dogs in the rural area.
While creating dog exercise fields has become a popular diversification strategy for farmers in recent years, concerns are increasingly being raised by environmental experts over food security and whether councils should be doing more to protect farmland.
The 5 Acres Canine Field application states as 3.2 million pets were bought over the lockdown period the demand for safe and secure dog walking areas has increased.
It states: “There is a large demand for this type of development, where people can exercise their dogs in a safe and secure location.
“This is of more benefit to owners with dogs that have behavioural and or
medical issues which limit the places they can exercise their dogs. This development would provide a well maintained safe private space for their dogs for the safety of both the public and other animals.
“The rise in dog thefts has also made some dog owners wary of walking their dogs in public places having this facility will allow a safe and secure place for these worried owners.”
In response to the proposal, a Thornton le Beans and Crosby with Cotcliffe Parish Council spokesman raised concerns was about potential dangers of accessing the site, on a blind bend.
He added the authority’s members had a “general feeling is of disappointment that the applicant did not feel it necessary to apply for planning permission for change of use before advertising his new business.
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