Planners are backing a dog exercise and training area to be created in fields north of a village near Grantham.

Ms C Watson of Westfield Farm, Station Road, Barkston, seeks to create the venture on a 2.5ha site east of Hough Road, which is also north of Barkston.

The planning application will come before the planning committee of South Kesteven District Council later this month as it is deemed a 'major application.'

Members will consider issues such as the principle of development, the impact on character and appearance of the area, impact on neighbouring residential amenity and impact on highways.

The scheme, in open countryside, would involve changing the use of land from agricultural to a dog exercising/training area, with an informal parking area for approximately six cars.

The exercise/training area would be enclosed by a 1.8m high green mesh fencing. The proposed hours of operation would be during daylight hours. No lighting is proposed.

A report prepared by council planning staff said SKDC had received 16 letters of objection about the proposal, four in favour and one neutral.

Objections raised included the issue of noise, barking dogs, insufficient parking, and traffic generation.

They also said the opening hours would be uncertain and could be late in the summer and there was no plan concerning the removal of dog waste.

However, supporters said the venture would be fantastic for dog owners, it would be very popular, offering a safe space to exercise dogs and the applicant owns another business and manages it very responsibly.

Assessing the issues, they concluded: "To summarise, it is considered that the proposed use as a dog exercising/training facility is acceptable in principle, and that it would not result in any unacceptable impacts on residential amenity, the character of the area, or highways safety.

"The representations have been taken into consideration in the decision making process. It is noted that the number of objections is high, but further to assessing the proposal against the relevant policies within the Local Plan and the NPPF, I find no material reason to refuse the application. I therefore recommend that planning permission is granted."

Planning Committee is due to consider the application on Thursday August 26.