Bark Run owner suffers online abuse after footpath row

Charlotte Smith says she has also become the victim of a vicious online hate campaign after launching her new business called Bark Run.

Residents living nearby claim they have been walking their dogs on the land off Beggarmans Lane in Knutsford for years and feel aggrieved as they always believed they had a right of way.

Twenty-eight-year-old Charlotte opened a dog park eight weeks ago to train dogs and create a safe space for owners of nervous or injured pets to exercise their dogs.

READ > Christmas movies screened in drive through cinema

The former agricultural fields belong to Phil and Janine Simons, parents of her partner Nic and had been rented to farmers and for horses for around 40 years.

Charlotte Smith at Bark Run with her two retrievers Chance and Whisper

However, the land has never been open to the public.

Charlotte said: "This has always been private property. There has never been a public footpath route through the field.

"It has always had a fence around it but locals have been trespassing on the land, trampling on crops for years.

"People just come in and break down a fence or cut a hole in the hedge to gain access.

"It is costing me a lot of money to repair this thoughtless damage."

Charlotte said she is also receiving abuse on social media.

Charlotte Smith competed at shows across the country inluding Crufts with Chance

"I have been called everything, people can be so cruel," she said. "It is having an impact on my mental health.

"I just can't understand why people who love dogs can behave like this. People are screaming at me at the gate.

"It is not going to deter me. I love dogs and want to go above and beyond to help people."

Charlotte says there is an official public footpath near Bexton Lane that is not on their land.

"There is a legal and correct route that people are more than welcome to use," she said.

This is the official public footpath near Bexton Lane 

"It is a 40 minute walk and brings you through a lovely area. I would encourage people to use this official public footpath."

Residents have lodged complaints on a planning application for a change of use for the land.

One dog owner said: "This was an open, unhindered path. It provided access to the countryside and has been enjoyed by three generations of our family."

Charlotte Smith celebrating at Crufts with Vinny, a Hungarian vizsla

Another objector said "It is greenbelt land and should not be developed on. I have walked there with my dog for more than 21 years as have lots of locals."

A planning document states: "The land has always been private and these users have trespassed.

"Testimonials clearly demonstrate the need for a secure area to train young dogs, let dogs who are not well behaved be loose without other dogs nearby and provide a safe area for owners to enjoy a safe space to play with their dogs."

The plans are still being consulted on and are set to be determined under delegated authority.