Farmer wants dog walking field

A FARMER wants to create a dog walking field.

Miss R Wallis, of Ewelme Down Farm, applied for planning permission to change the use of part of a field to the west of the farmhouse.

In a planning statement submitted to South Oxfordshire District Council, her planning agent John Phillips Planning Consultancy, says the land is about 1.9 hectares.

Miss Wallis has already diversified her farm by creating a small glamping business with self-contained camping tents and amenities.

But this didn’t do well last summer due to poor weather so she needs to consider other income streams.

The statement says: “As things stand, the applicant has noted that the entrance to the site is already used by people driving to the area to walk pet dogs. Indeed, many park on the applicant’s private land to do so.

“There is also a regular stream of dog walkers driving past the site on their way to park and walk at Swyncombe Downs.

“Coupled with the applicant’s ambition to plant more trees, this has given her the idea to seek to change the use of the underutilised grassland paddock at the entrance for use as a safely enclosed dog walking area.”

Miss Wallis would install a 2m high perimeter fence and an entrance gate to ensure the area was properly enclosed.

The statement says: “The fence will be constructed using timber posts and wire fencing. The fence will be lightweight and completely in keeping with the wider agricultural and rural setting.

“There is an existing hard surfaced area to at the north-west corner of the site which will be used as car parking and is accessed immediately off the unnamed road to the west.

“It is already informally used as such now. The aim is to retain a low key profile.

“Only one user will be allowed entry to the site at a time and thus the occasional parking of a car will not be visually intrusive.

“The rationale is to further diversify the commercial operations for the farm’s continued prosperity.

“The offering of this type of facility is of increasing demand in the area.

“Both ends of the dog spectrum benefit from exercise in an enclosed area. Nervous dogs can play happily in such an area, as can more boisterous dogs, without fear of upsetting other people or other dogs due to the enclosed nature of the site.

“Dog owners are mostly responsible but cannot entirely ensure the behaviour of their dogs at all times. Enclosed areas provide a real community benefit.”

Ewelme Parish Council has not objected and the district council is due to make a decision by March 28.