Permission sought to continue running dog exercise area in Gresford

Retrospective planning permission is being sought to continue running a dog exercise area on private land in Gresford.

Ryecroft Meadow has made the application to change the use of the land in the village at Caia Farm, Old Wrexham Road, from agricultural to sui generis (meaning ‘of its own kind’).

According to the application submitted to Wrexham Council, the facility provides a variety of areas where dogs can be exercised ‘off-lead’ under the supervision of their owners.

It is used for training dogs with fewer distractions, dogs with little or no recall, injured dogs who need more control, rehabilitation, anxious dogs, elderly dogs, deaf dogs and owners with dogs who want space away from other owners and dogs.

A statement accompanying the application says: “At no time are user’s dogs unattended or unsupervised on the land and all dogs are on a lead outside the fields.

“There will be minimal changes required to the land, and this proposal will continue to offer an exclusive space in the Wrexham area for dog owners.

“Planning Policy Wales also states ‘local authorities should encourage the growth of self-employment and micro businesses in rural areas by adopting a supportive and flexible approach to home working and associated change of use applications’, in line with this statement we would hope that WCBC (Wrexham Council) would be supportive of the proposed change of use.”

The statement adds: “The land which is the subject of this application is located in Wrexham, off the Old Wrexham Road in Gresford. There are two gates per area, one is a pedestrian gate and the other is larger meaning tractors can access for maintenance purposes. There is parking around the corner from the fields on hardstanding near existing barns.

“No vehicles are permitted to park inside the fields and all gates are shut before any dog is allowed off-lead. The vehicle/maintenance access gates are padlocked.”

A decision on the change of use application will be made by Wrexham Council planners at a future date.

By Rory Sheehan – BBC Local Democracy Reporter