The Woodland Trust has lodged plans to change the use of a field on rural land in Bolton.
The proposals are for a dog training facility on a field off Matchmoor Lane, Horwich, which is part of the Smithills sstate run by the Woodland Trust - their largest area of land in the UK.
Planning documents lodged this week with Bolton Council express a wish to change the use of the field used for rough grazing to a facility for training and exercising dogs.
The forms were submitted by the Woodland Trust based at Smithills Hall.
In the application, they state: “We would like to change the use of this field from agriculture to a dog exercise and training facility.
“We intend to issue a licence to a local business who will run a training school.
“When the field is not in use for this purpose it will be available for dog owners to hire so that they can exercise their dogs in a safe, enclosed location.
“The Woodland Trust is supportive of the proposal as it will educate dog owners to be responsible for their dogs on the estate and provide a managed space for dogs to be exercised safely.”
A response from Bolton’s transport and highways department said there were ‘no reasonable objections on highway grounds to what is being proposed under this application’.
The plans will be decided at a future date after neighbours have been consulted.
