RESIDENTS and a community council in a Conwy rural village fear plans for a dog exercise area could create noise for neighbours.
Max Jones has applied to Conwy County Council’s planning department, seeking permission for the change of use of an agricultural field to a dog exercise area at Bryn Rodyn, Old Colwyn, Betws yn Rhos.
Officers are advising the committee to grant conditional planning permission, despite a “significant number of neighbour objections to the proposal”.
The plans relate to a parcel of grazing land to the west of Bryn Rodyn farm.
Mr Jones wants the facility to open between 7am and 8pm on Monday to Saturday and 8am until 6pm on Sundays and bank holidays.
Visitors would be able to book a 50-minute slot beforehand, where a maximum of four owners and 10 dogs will be able to use the site.
But Betws yn Rhos Community Council has formally objected to the application after 28 residents opposed and one supported the plans.
“There are concerns that there is no active travel to the site, and concern was expressed for the safety of pedestrians accessing the site,” the community council said in a statement.
“There are long hours of opening planned, and the noise of dogs barking and additional traffic to the site is likely to interfere with the lives of nearby householders.”
The applicant said the site would be managed by one part-time staff member who would oversee bookings, general maintenance, and upkeep.
Planning officers are advising councillors to back the plans.
“There are no significant concerns regarding visual amenity and the impact on green infrastructure/biodiversity,” said the planning report.
“Its impact on residential amenity and highway-related issues also do not appear significant and will be conditioned appropriately, including restricting the duration of the permission to a period of two years.”
The site is accessed via a single lane track which connects to Dolwen Road. A boundary fence would surround the area if permission were granted.
The plans are set to be debated at a planning committee meeting on Wednesday, January 14.
