A CALL to allow a Pembrokeshire dog exercise area to keep running, which had attracted objections from the local community council, has been refused by the national park, in part due to the noise impact from barking.
In an application to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, through agent Hayston Developments & Planning Ltd, Lawson and Penny Owen sought retrospective permission for a farm diversification scheme to create summertime only dog exercise area with a small hardstanding area for parking on land near Williamston Farm, Long Lane, Broad Haven, near Haverfordwest.
Work started in June 2022.
Local community council The Havens had objected to the scheme on grounds including it being an unsuitable location which was incapable of being properly and safely monitored, noise impact on a neighbouring property, and proximity to a nearby cycle path.
The application also saw 13 members of the public write in support, and six object.
Those in support said raised issues including there was no similar facility in the area, excessive noise could be mitigated “by giving neighbours ear defenders, ear plugs and headphones,” it providing “a valuable and safe/secure location to walk dogs of all abilities together with owners of all abilities,” and being “away from residential or commercial buildings”.
Objectors raised concerns of excessive noise, impact on holiday let businesses, a lack of consultation, waste collection, traffic concerns, and claims it was used far more often than the applicants said.
A supporting statement through Hayston Developments & Planning Ltd said the applicant, who have some 400 acres spread across four farms in the Broad Haven / Nolton area have had a need to diversify, with previous activities including holiday lets, a horse centre, zorbing facility, and a weddings / cinema show venue.
The applicants currently have a submitted application for a holiday development at the site of the former pony trekking and zorbing activity centre, which had to stop due to the impact of the Covid pandemic; that ongoing scheme at a different location.
The supporting statement said the only indications of the suspended use of the land as an exercise field at the time the application was submitted was the presence of a box of suitable toys for dogs, a water supply point, a picnic table and the presence of wire fencing and of the locked gate to the exercise field.
An officer report recommending refusal said: “The current application for the retention of the dog walking facility on land outside of the rural centre of Broad Haven is not considered to be sited in a sustainable location which will assist in removing the need for private motor vehicle trip generation.
“In addition, the facility is considered to impact on the amenity of neighbouring residential dwellings. These aspects form the reasons for refusal.”
The scheme was refused on those two points, the second saying: “The proximity of the proposed use to neighbouring dwellings is considered to be too close in this instance and will result in the risk of significant noise disturbance from dogs barking whilst these animals are utilising the facility, this will have an unacceptable adverse impact on the amenity of neighbours and be detrimental to the quality of the environment currently enjoyed at this location.”
