Dog walking site given go ahead by council

Dog owners will be able to book 30-minute sessions at the field

Dog walkers in Devon will be able to exercise their pets in a purpose-built compound after council planners gave a scheme the go ahead.

Teignbridge Council’s planning committee agreed on plans to change an agricultural field off Idestone Lane at Ide into a dog walking field for private hire.

Dog owners will be able to book 30-minute sessions at the field, with only one person allowed with a maximum of four dogs at a time.

Some local residents said the amount of traffic the new dog-walking site would generate was unacceptable.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, James Studholme said there had been 31 other individual objections against the plans.

"Even a small number of extra cars would produce a disproportionate impact,” he said.

"There is no need or call from the local community for such a private rented facility. The clientele will come from afar, and by car."

Councillor John Parrott said the strength of local feeling should not be overlooked.

“I’m a dog owner,” he said. “In principle I am very supportive of dog walking sites, but they have got to be in the right location and I genuinely don’t believe this site is the right location.”

However, councillor Janet Bradford said such dog parks were desperately needed.

"Some dogs are much better walked on their own, or with dogs that they know," she said.

The committee gave the plan the go-ahead by a five-vote majority.