Plans approved for dog-walking field on former golf course

Plans to turn part of an old golf course in a Wrexham village into a dog-walking field have been given the green light.

Councillors met yesterday (Monday, 2 September) to discuss an application to change the use of an agricultural site off Chester Road in Lavister, near Rossett.

The land close to the Wales-England border was previously part of Darland Golf Course, which closed in July 2014, and has since been used intermittently for agricultural purposes.

The Woollam family, who are behind the proposals, said they wanted to use the site to provide a secure place for dog owners to walk their pets off the lead.

Objections were raised by community leaders and 23 nearby residents over concerns it would have a negative impact on an area of green wedge land, leading to flooding, traffic and waste disposal issues.

However, the scheme has now been approved by members of Wrexham Council’s planning committee.

It came after one councillor said the facility would be a positive addition to the area.

Chirk North representative Frank Hemmings said: “I have to confess that I’ve used one of these facilities on more than one occasion.

“I find them very useful, particularly if you’ve got a nervous dog, and you can let them run off the lead and enjoy themselves.

“The site I use has got three or four separate fields which are always quiet and peaceful, even though there are other users on other fields.

“It’s very safe and I can highly recommend this sort of facility.”

The application was recommended to go ahead by the local authority’s chief planning officer David Fitzsimon before the meeting.

It came despite Rossett councillor Ross Shepherd objecting to the proposals after describing access to the site as “poor”.

However, committee members were told the council’s highways officer had not raised any safety concerns.

Gwyn Humphreys, a planning agent acting on behalf of the Woollam family, added: “The development would utilise an existing vehicular access off the public highway and sufficient on-site parking provision would be provided to serve the development.

“In summary, the proposal would provide a secure and bespoke facility for locals to walk their dogs off a lead.”

The application was unanimously approved by the committee at the end of the debate.

Planning documents show the dog-walking facility will operate seven days a week between the hours of 7am and 9pm.

Pre-booking will be required to use the site for time slots of up to 55 minutes, with bins to be installed to dispose of dog waste.

By Liam Randall – BBC Local Democracy Reporter