A BID for retrospective planning permission to allow a dog walking field near Wells to carry on operating have been approved – despite some objections.

Salmon Planning Company, on behalf of JJ Saunders Ltd, applied to Somerset Council for permission to run a 3.5-acre dog walking site on land bordering the Old Down Business Park, in Emborough.

The venture had been operating prior to the planning application being submitted, with the application seeking permission to allow it, as well as to allow the creation of the parking area, a bund around it, and the use of a field shelter for customers.

“The site has been operating from 6am to 10pm seven days a week,” the plans said. “Appointments are booked in 50-minute slots with a 10-minute gap to avoid any crossover.

“The use is limited to a maximum of seven dogs at any time, with each customer having sole use of the field.”

Applicant JJ Saunders Ltd also owns the business park, the application said, with the access road also serving the field, known as Walkies Dog Field.

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The application met with some opposition from residents, who commented on the plan.

One said: “There are already other dog exercise parks in the area which applied for planning permission before constructing the parks and opening.

“Applying for retrospective permission is against the spirit of fairness, and by allowing retrospective permission will encourage others to do likewise.”

While another said: “Just because this site is already operating, they do so without permission and when judging this application the fact that they are already operational should not be taken into account, but rather the functional need to have a third site in such a small area, with several more within five to six miles or so – Fentons Fields, Dugs Dog Field, Muddy Paws to name a few.

“The site is highly visible from the road and is not in keeping with the surrounding area – the fencing, parking area and parked vehicles are all highly visible from the highway and are out of character on the street scene.”

Comments in support of the plan included one that said: “I think this is a great location for people to exercise their dogs. It has an ideal environment to make your dogs at ease, with wildflowers, logs for them to enjoy the countryside.

“It is situated just back from the main road with a gate into the car park, then a further gate into the dog field, which is fenced around the exercise area.

“This is providing your dog with an enjoyable experience to enjoy with their owner. We live very close and noise is not an issue.”

Somerset Council has now approved the scheme, with conditions which include; only one customer is able to use the site per hour and that no new external lighting is installed without first seeking planning permission.