Estate plans walking facility for nervous dogs

Nervous dogs could soon get a place to go for walks in peace and quiet if a planning application gets council approval.

Downton Hall Estates has applied to planners at Shropshire Council for permission to change a grazing pasture east of Middleton, near Ludlow, into a private, enclosed dog walking facility.

It would be on land adjacent to the former Clee Hill Railway Line and also bounded by Dogditch Brook.

Planning agent Otto De Weijer, of Weijer Architects in Codsall, has told the council that the proposed dog walking is aimed at those dog owners who are "not comfortable or confident about walking their dogs in public areas."

Mr De Weijer said: "This could be due to the fact that their dogs are nervous when confronted with other dogs or that they themselves are unsure on how to deal with possible aggressive dogs they might come across during a walk."

It could also be used by dog owners who have a disability or those who would like to "let their dog run free and off the lead".

He concluded: "We believe that the proposed facility will provide access for a large number of people and their dogs who otherwise would not consider venturing out into the  countryside but instead leave their dog to be confined within their own garden to avoid contact with other dogs."

The application is out for public consultation with Shropshire Council.

The Shropshire Area of the Ramblers has told the council that a Middleton to Bitterley footpath "should be legally diverted" from going across the site.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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