Planning to be approved to turn green belt into dog field in Rivelin Valley, on specific wildlife conditions
Objectors are concerned that dangerous dogs could react to children on the Rivelin Valley Trail
A green belt field in the Rivelin Valley is set to become a dog walking park, despite objections from local residents and a conservation group over wildlife impacts and dangerous dogs.
But conditions attached to Sheffield City Council's planning permission say the dog walking park must include a bug hotel.
The half-hectare field, between the Holly Bush pub and the Rivelin Valley Water Play splash park, has been disued since its previous use as allotments ended in the late 1980s.
Planning permission is set to be approved for the space to become a bookable private hire dog walking park for up to six dogs or two households at a time.
It would involve the building of a wooden field shelter and a car park and the installation of fencing and a CCTV camera.
The plan attracted 20 objections, the majority being local residents with concerns for wildlife, dangerous dogs and some who say the dog field and its car park would be out of character and appearance with the rural landscape and would impact the openness of the green belt.
The objectors who mentioned dangerous or reactive dogs, noted the site’s "sensitive location" with the presence of other dogs and children on the Rivelin Valley Trail potentially being visible "stimuli".
Some suggested the fencing proposed would not be able to prevent dogs from escaping.
The applicant couple John and Liz Clare previously said their aim was to create a “safe space” for nervous dogs and banned breeds, such as XL Bullies, which can only be let off the lead on private land.
Over the summer they strimmed brambles and removed waste from the land, including flytipped tyres, a sofa, a car roof and oil drums full of glass.
Five trees were given emergency tree protection orders by the council during the site clearance.
Objectors pointed out the development would impact local biodiversity, saying that key habitats were destroyed and wildlife displaced through the site clearance, which occurred prior to planning permission being sought.
The site sits within the Lower Rivelin Valley Local Wildlife Site.
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The Rivelin Valley Conservation Group also objected to the scheme, however it noted that the appearance of the site has been improved from its original state since it was cleared.
Other objectors say the development and proposed use would impact negatively on biodiversity, including in the Rivelin Valley, with displaced wildlife unable to return due to the presence of dogs and fencing around the site.
Biodiversity concerns have resulted in a planning condition that the development must include a minimum of two bird boxes, hedgehog-friendly enclosures, the creation of woodpile habitat, and a bee/bug hotel.
20 supporters across the city said the "secure and enclosed" dog field would meet local growing demand for safe dog walking parks, remove dangerous and reactive dogs from the Rivelin Valley Trail, and would reduce the risks of dogs disturbing livestock and wildlife in more rural areas.
Down the road the Rivelin Valley Dog Park costs £10 per hour and offers a space where you can safely let your dog off lead for a run or off-lead training, which reviewers say has been helpful to train their dogs recall.
Plans will be discussed at a planning and highways committee meeting on October 13.