Plans for dog walking paddock lodged with Wrexham council

A proposal to change the use of agricultural land to a dog-walking paddock in rural Wrexham has been submitted to the council.

The proposed dog walking area, adjacent to the B5445, Lavister, Rossett, will cover 0.62 hectares and will have a single secure paddock with a small car parking area.

The use of the paddock is to allow people living locally and visitors to the area a safe place so they can walk their dog off the lead, applicants said in the planning statement.

The paddock will have appropriate specialised fencing to ensure that the loose dogs are secure and safe.

The statement added: “The site is surrounded by large towns and built-up areas. Local walks are becoming increasingly busy thus increasing livestock worrying.”

All dog walking sessions will be pre-booked for up to 55-minute slots.

Dog walkers will not be able to just turn up speculatively, the statement reads, as the paddock will be booked exclusively for the dog or dogs and their owners.

The applicants said: “We would expect an average of 1.5 dogs per paddock per session.”

The proposal is described as a ‘farm ‘diversification’ scheme for the Woollam family.

It said: “The Woollam family have spent many hours looking into different ways to diversify their income and found this change of use would be the most sustainable and suit their location.”