After a sheep was “brutally attacked” by a dog on his own land, a Devon farmer has applied to create a secure dog walking field in a bid to protect livestock and offer a safe space for local owners.
A full planning application has been submitted to East Devon District Council for the change of use of 1.2 hectares (three acres) of agricultural land at Straitgate Farm, Exeter Road, Ottery St Mary.
The applicant, Mr Tom Fry, is seeking permission to establish a secure dog walking field, complete with 6ft high fencing and a hardstanding car parking area for visitors.
In a Design and Access Statement supporting the application, the incident involving the sheep is highlighted as a key factor behind the proposal. The document states: “Last year, one of the applicant’s sheep was brutally attacked by a dog on their own land.” It adds: “Protecting livestock is a paramount priority for the applicant.”
The statement also refers to an increase in dog attacks following the Covid pandemic, saying many dogs were bought or rehomed “without consideration of breed suitability” and that there has since been “a significant increase of dog attacks due to a lack of training and adequate exercise”.
Straitgate Farm is described as a mixed dairy, beef and sheep enterprise covering approximately 370 acres. The farm has around 250 dairy cows and followers, a suckler herd of 320 beef cattle and about 160 breeding ewes. Mr Fry runs the business alongside his wife, four children and one full-time employee.
The application states that the proposed dog walking site “will diversify the existing farm business, increasing viability and sustainability to ensure longevity of the farm business”.
It adds that the facility would provide “a safe, enclosed space for local people to provide adequate exercise and training for their dogs whilst avoiding the risk of harming other people, dogs or livestock.”
The plans involve separating 1.2 hectares from a larger 2.6-hectare field parcel, with the remaining 1.4 hectares retained in agricultural use.
The dog walking field would be enclosed by a 6ft (1.8m) high timber post and wire mesh fence, with mesh spacing of 50mm by 50mm “to ensure that the smallest of dog breeds are secure”. Gates are proposed for pedestrian access from the car park and for occasional farm management access.
A 250 sq m hardstanding area would be constructed within the existing roadside access from Birdcage Lane, around 115 metres from Exeter Road (B3174). The parking area, measuring about 8.5m by 14.25m, is designed to allow two vehicles to park, turn and exit in a forward gear. The surface would consist of compacted hardcore over a membrane, with excavated topsoil reused on the holding.
Use of the field would be controlled through an online booking system, with one booking at a time. Proposed opening hours are 6am to 9pm in summer and 6am to 6pm in winter. The statement says restricting use to daylight hours means “there is no requirement for additional lighting”.
The site is not within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty or a Special Area of Conservation and is classified as grade 3 agricultural land. It lies within a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone, but the statement says the change of use would mean slurry would no longer be spread on the field. Dog walkers would be required to collect and remove waste.
The planning statement argues that the scheme accords with national and local policies supporting rural diversification, and concludes that the proposal “will not cause any form of pollution” and would not harm the amenity of local residents.
