Planners approve dog exercise field seven years after it opened

PLANNERS have approved a dog exercise field on green belt land at Burtonwood, Warrington, seven years after it opened.

Warrington Borough Council has granted permission for the retention of use for dog exercise field with fencing, gateway, parking area and shelter at Bradley Old Hall Farm Hall Lane, Burtonwood with conditions including a
Noise Management Plan in the interests of highways safety and residential amenity.

The application site involves a dog exercise field with an associated parking area that is separated from the applicant’s wider land ownership by post and wire fencing.
The site is situated in the countryside and is washed over by the green belt. The site was formerly in agricultural use. Inferring from historical satellite imagery, this agricultural use ceased at some point between 2009 and 2015 and the use of the field as a dog exercise facility began in 2016.

The site has since been operating without planning permission. The current application seeks to regularise the ongoing use of the land as a dog exercise facility and the associated fencing, gateway, parking area and shelter. Moveable dog agility equipment is also associated with the use.
There were no objections from the general public.

In approving the application Warrington Borough Council planners said the use of the field as a dog exercise facility would not harm the openness of the green belt, especially given that the facility operates on a booking system whereby visitors gain private access to the field for an allotted time with at least 15 minutes between users.
The submitted noise management plan outlines that each customer must sign a copy of the terms and conditions which sets out, inter alia, that dogs exhibiting excessive barking will be restricted from using the facility and that no large groups of people, dogs, clubs or people not known to each other will be allowed to use the field at the same time.

In support of the application, the operators submitted a Bradlegh Dog Exercise Field Management Plan.
1. The field operates on a pre-booking system, without a booking the field cannot be used.
2. All customers are required to register prior to using the field and their details are kept on file.
3. Each customer signs a copy of our terms and conditions outlining the requirements for using the field. Failure to do so would result in them not being able to make future bookings.
4. Customers are required to park in the parking space provided off the private road to prevent Hall Lane from being obstructed.
5. There is a 15-minute gap between each customer booking, this allows one customer to leave before the next one arrives. This should stop any additional cars from waiting on the private access road or Hall Lane. The same applies to customers arriving on foot.
6. Any disrespectful behaviour by customers to the general public, nearby residents or other users will not be tolerated and they will not be able to make future bookings.
7. Smoking on site is not allowed and users will need to ensure they pick up and dispose of anything brought on site by themselves such as litter and toys. Bins are also provided on-site.
8. All dog faeces must be picked up and removed from site. Bins are located at strategic points on the field. Biodegradable poo bags are provided onsite.
9. Our T&Cs inform customers that noise and barking should be discouraged. Customers and dogs that exhibit excessive and persistent patterns of noise and barking behaviour will be restricted from using the facility.
10. No large groups of dogs, clubs or excessive numbers will be allowed to use the field at the same time.
11. Regular inspections are carried out during the day to ensure the field is being used in the correct manner. We live onsite so this is closely monitored.
12. All fences and hedges are maintained to a good standard with any holes in them being repaired and replanted. We will continue to plant trees and hedges around the boundary to help the local wildlife flourish.
13. Our booking system and registrations are kept on file and will be continually monitored to ensure registered customers are using the facility and we will review our management plan annually to check its effectiveness.