Secure dog walking field at Land At Marston Meadow, Marston Lane, Marston, Stafford

The site and surroundings

The site lies between two lanes, is surrounded by farmland, and is near homes and the Grade II listed St Leonards Church.

“24/39849/COU - 2 Context 1.0 Site and Surrounding 1.1 The application site is a parcel of agricultural land between Marston Lane and Yarlet Lane. The site is surrounded by further agricultural fields with some nearby residential properties and the Grade II listed St Leonards Church. It is stated within the application form that the last use of the land was grazing for sheep.”

Officer report

Why officers recommended approval

Officers considered the use suitable rural diversification that would provide a local service without unacceptable effects, subject to conditions.

“In this case it is considered that the use constitutes an appropriate form of rural diversification that will contribute to the growth of the rural economy, provide a service to the local area, and not involve the irreversible change of use of the agricultural land with little in the way of operational development, and as such, would not lead to the permanent loss of agricultural land.”

“24/39849/COU - 11 C) The development shall not be occupied until the site investigation and post- excavation assessment has been completed in accordance with the Archaeological Project Design approved under condition (A) and the provision made for analysis, publication and dissemination of the results and archive deposition has been secured.”

Officer report

What consultees said

Highways, conservation, environmental health, rights of way, biodiversity, newt and archaeology consultees raised no objection subject to safeguards.

“Biodiversity Officer: No objection, management and monitoring plan will need to be included at the Gain Condition Stage to ensure the habitats are maintained over the statutory 30-year period. Newt Officer: No objection subject to condition. SCC Archaeology: No objection subject to condition.”

Officer report

What residents said

Ten objections raised concerns about residential amenity, noise, privacy, overlooking, highway safety, design, the historic environment and flooding.

“Achieving well-designed places The Plan for Stafford Borough (TPSB) 2011-2031 Policies N1 Design, N8 Landscape Character Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) ¬¬– Design 6.0 Amenity 6.1 Criteria (e) of Policy N1 of the TPSB and the SPD require design and layout to take account of adjacent residential areas and existing activities. Consideration has therefore been given to the proposals impact on residential well- being to surrounding properties.”

“The proposed dog walking field is also set back from the highway and is a distance of approximately 61m from the nearby residential property. As such, these sites are not directly comparable to the current case and the operating hours requested by the EHT are considered appropriate and reasonable.”

Officer report

Who spoke

A speaker objected, a speaker supported the proposal, and Councillor F Beatty addressed the committee as ward member.

The vote and decision

Members approved the application after amending the lighting and dog-waste conditions.

“Considered the report of the Head of Economic Development and Planning regarding this matter. Following her presentation the Deputy Development Management Manager reported receipt of further representations objecting to the application. Public speaking on the proposal was as follows:- D Georgie spoke in objection to the proposal. C Preston spoke in support of the proposal. At the invitation of the Chairman, Councillor F Beatty, Milwich Ward Member, addressed the Committee.”

“On continuation of the debate, Councillor S N Spencer moved and Councillor R A James seconded that condition 5 be amended to read ‘Before the development is first brought into use, suitable receptacles for the disposal of dog waste shall be provided within the exercise field and the car parking area and, shall be emptied daily, (or such other locations as may be agreed in writing with the Local Planning Authority) and shall thereafter be retained as such for the life of the…”

Minutes