Approval Granted for Dog Walking and Training Field Proposal

A proposal for a dog walking field located in a village near Peterborough has received approval. An application was submitted to Peterborough City Council seeking to convert a section of a field on Helpston Road, Ailsworth, into a dedicated space for dog walking and training. This area is planned to feature a 1.8m (about 6ft) high fence and four parking spaces. The applicant indicated that the facility would provide pre-booked, secure areas for up to three dogs at a time to exercise and train off-lead. Ailsworth Parish Council stated its support for the concept of a dog walking area but expressed apprehension regarding the potential traffic the site could generate. An objection from a member of the public pointed out that entry to the field is situated on a marked bridle path, asserting that this “will have an impact on riding in the area – there are also local badgers believed to have a sett located in the field”. The applicant clarified that “potential user cannot arrive speculatively and that dog walking sessions are pre-booked for slots which are defined in terms of arrival, start time and duration. “This will be suitable to control access to the facility and, if required, timings will be staggered to prevent too many users arriving or leaving at the same time.” The council approved the plan this week.