THE National Trust is challenging plans for a dog exercise area in Wilmslow over fears its four-pawed patrons could attack livestock at the Quarry Bank estate.

Cheshire East Council is currently considering plans from the Trustees of the Hooton Estate to change a patch of agricultural land next to the Honey Bee pub, in Altrincham Road, into a dog exercise facility.

The applicant insists that development on the site would be ‘very minimal’ and the location is appropriate – despite it being greenbelt land.

But the land sits to the south of Bank House Farm, a part of the Quarry Bank estate that the National Trust is currently restoring into rich wildflower meadows, and the conservation charity fears the new business could disrupt its work.

Writing on behalf of the developer, planning agent Nial Casselden said: “The proposal is predominantly to change the use of the land to a relatively low-intensity dog exercise area.

“The nature of the operation requires an expanse of open land away from heavily built-up areas and associated noise, activity and other dogs.

“As such, the proposed location in a rural area close to the edge of Wilmslow is ideal.

“As a use that essentially involves exercising animals on open land, the characteristics of the use will not be dissimilar to agricultural and equestrian uses prevalent in the wider area at present.”

The National Trust’s main concern involves a 2m-high ‘visually permeable’ fence that would surround the site, known as ‘heras fencing’.

Mr Casselden insists the fencing would ‘provide the necessary site security in a discreet manner’, but the National Trust disagrees.

Knutsford Guardian:

The site where the facility would open. Image: Google Maps

In an objection sent to CEC, Claire Walters, assistant planning adviser at the National Trust, said: “The risk of dogs escaping from the site is a concern.

“Notwithstanding its landscape impact, heras fencing is not considered a particularly secure form of enclosure with dogs potentially able to escape between or under the panels and onto adjoining agricultural land.

“In the last couple of years, we have had several serious incidents where dogs have jumped tall fences and attacked and killed livestock.

“Given the ecological sensitivities of the site, this is clearly a situation would wish to prevent happening in the future.”

Ms Walters added that ‘increased noise from barking dogs and general disturbance’ could affect nesting birds and mammals at Bank House Farm, and that the 2m fence would ‘be entirely out of keeping with the rural character of the local area’.

Transition Wilmslow has also objected to the proposal, insisting it would harm the green belt and questioning the need for a dog exercise area.

In a letter to CEC, the group said: “This gateway into Wilmslow has already seen significant business development with the change of use from kennels to a business use at the Colony and the development the Waters location.

“This is a key location into the town. Any changes of use which might lead to any urbanising factors would significantly impact on this green entrance into Wilmslow.”

Wilmslow Town Council’s planning committee raised no objections to the proposal at its meeting last month.

If approved by CEC, the field itself would remain as it is, while a new pedestrian access would be created from Altrincham Road.

Customers would be able to book one-hour slots in daylight hours, with one customer per slot, and they would be advised to park on the stub road off Altrincham Road.

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Residents can comment on the proposal until Monday, January 13.

To see the plans, search for ’19/5216M’ on CEC’s planning website.