Dog field operating hours at Four Acres Dog Field, Whaddon Lane, Hilperton, Trowbridge

The proposed change

The applicant sought to extend the private hire dog field’s daily operating hours from 07:00–19:00 to 07:00–20:00.

“This application seeks to vary a condition imposed on consented application PL/2023/05787 which relates to a dog exercise and training land use. The current permission allows the applicant to use the land for the above purposes between the hours of 07:00 and 19:00 each day.”

“The proposed variation, as revised, seeks one additional hour each day to allow the field to be used until 20:00.”

Officer report

The site

The 1.7-hectare field lies northeast of Hilperton, between Maylands Farm and Knoll Farm, which includes a dwelling.

“The application site is located 0.6km to the northeast of Hilperton village and measures 1.7 hectares and is located between Maylands Farm (42m from the eastern site boundary and beyond Whaddon Lane) to the east and Knoll Farm, which includes a dwelling (around 100m…”

“The field has been in use as a dog walking field following gaining planning permission from the Western Area Planning Committee in November 2023.”

Officer report

Why officers supported it

Officers found no technical objections, no public protection complaints, no substantive amenity harm and no highway safety conflict.

“As stated above, the use of the site has been operating with no complaints received by the Council’s Public Protection team, and the recent consultation with the Council’s Public Protection team resulted in the officer confirming no objections to the proposed additional hour when dogs could be exercised (from 19:00 to 20:00) each day. This would not result in substantive harm to the wider public and neighbouring amenities.”

“The site continues to have no electricity connection, and condition 5 of PL/2023/05787 can be reimposed as part of this variation (which would set a new planning chapter for the site) to continue to prohibit the use of external lighting at the field. Officers are satisfied that the proposed additional hour of use, would result in no substantive impact on local amenities.”

Officer report

What consultees said

The parish council sought summer-only extended hours, while public protection and highways officers raised no objections.

“CONSULTATION RESPONSES Hilperton Parish Council: “...resolved to object to the above planning application unless the extended hours are restricted to the summer months of May through to September.”

“Wiltshire Council Public Protection Officer: No objections and confirmed there have been no “received noise complaints related to the current management of the dog walking fields...”

Officer report

Public views

Objectors raised traffic, highway safety and barking concerns; one supporter described the facility as valuable outside working hours.

“Objections: • The restriction was in part set to limit vehicle traffic on the single-carriageway lane. • Risk of harm to vehicles, walkers, runners, horse-riders from vehicular traffic, especially in the early morning hours. • Users of the field access it by car. • The dogs bark in the field and concern if the hours lengthen.”

“Supportive: • This is a valuable resource, and additional hours would allow for its use outside of working hours.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The applicant spoke in support, the senior planning officer presented the recommendation, and Councillor Ernie Clark addressed the committee.

Members’ questions

Members questioned lighting, winter and after-dark use, visual amenity, traffic, power supply and possible effects on byway HILP21.

“Members of the Committee then had the opportunity to ask technical questions to the officer and queried matters in relation to reimposing or retaining lighting conditions, particularly when considering the implications of use of the site af ter dark or during winter months, and lack of power supply or fixed lighting at the site.”

“In response, officers confirmed that the proposal would only marginally result i n increased vehicle trips to and from the site in any given week; that the dog field was accessed directly from Whaddon Lane; and that the proposal would create only one additional session per day. It was further confirmed that the lighting conditions on the original permission were still in force and continued to regulate lighting at the site.”

Minutes

The committee vote

Councillor Andrew Griffin moved the officer recommendation, Councillor Andrew Davis seconded it, and the committee voted on the motion.

“A brief debate followed where Councillor Andrew Griffin moved the officer recommendation, which was seconded by Councillor Andrew Davis.”

“Following a vote on the motion, it was then:”

Minutes

The decision

The committee approved the variation to extend the dog field’s operating hours.

“The Committee APPROVED the variation of consented application…”

Minutes

Conditions attached

The approved hours are 07:00–20:00 daily, with no artificial lighting and requirements covering restoration and dog waste containers.

“No artificial lighting shall be installed on the site hereby approved.”

“The dog waste containers shall be retained on the site for the lifetime of the dog exercise / training use of the land.”

Officer report