A ‘much needed’ facility for dog training on the Isle of Wight — which attracted mixed feedback — has been turned down.
Plans had been proposed to turn a former agricultural field, at West Meath Nursery in Newchurch into a dog ‘paradise’.
Secure area for dog walking
It was described as a secure area suitable for furry-legged friends who could not ordinarily be let off their lead.
Neighbours had previously raised concerns over a lack of privacy and peace as well as an increase in noise disturbance and nuisance.
A wave of support did come from dog owners across the Island, but the positivity was not enough to convince the Isle of Wight council to approve the plans.
Opposed and rejected
The authority rejected the application for the facility earlier this month.
A total of 15 letters of objection were received, with many saying it was an unsuitable location for business use and that there would be no benefit to the village as it was unlikely to be used by residents. Concerns were also raised about dog waste.
16 letters of support
Countering those concerns, 16 letters of support were sent to the council saying it would be a ‘much-needed, useful facility’ for visitors and local residents, nervous and reactive dogs would benefit and the use of a booking system would reduce traffic and control noise.
Evaluating the application, council officers said dog training can be noisy and intrusive so the number of dogs on site at one time would be limited but that would not necessarily mean dogs would be quiet.
IWC: A continuous level of disturbance
A series of visiting dogs throughout the day could mean a continuous level of disturbance, officers said, which would change the tranquil nature of the village and no information had been provided to say otherwise.
Officers said while a facility may be useful for challenging dogs, it should not be at the expense of neighbours’ living conditions.
Reason for refusal
In its decision notice, the planning authority said the proposed business would not meet a specific local need or contribute to the sustainability of the wider countryside.
With the likely increase in vehicle movements, the council felt the change would have a potential harmful impact on the safety and convenience of highway users.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
