Paws in the Paddock

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Paws in the Paddock

Cockermouth's safe & secure dog exercise field

22/02/2025

As previously mentioned, during the recent storms, the big Ash tree came down in the winds.
Typically, it fell right along the fence line.
The farmer of the neighbouring field will be wanting to put sheep in the fields in the next few weeks, so today's mission was to try and cut the tree into small, more movable pieces.
My amazing brother, Owen, has done an amazing job cutting the tree into smaller pieces (my little boy had great fun watching him).
We now just need to pile all the wood and branches up (on my side of the fence) and theb ask someone with a mega tractor to pull the larger bits if trunk into the middle of the field to create a great feature in the dog park.

13/02/2025

Still no news yet regarding my 'change of use' application I'm afraid 🙄

However a few things are happening behind the scenes...

The big ash tree fell down in the storms. I was looking at getting this professionally removed as it was rotton at the base and it was suffering from ash die back. I obviously didn't want it falling down once I was up and running, so thanks to the latest storms, it saved me a job and a lot of money. I just need to chop it up, dish out the wood and fix the fence 😅

I've spoken to my planner this week and by the sounds of it, everything has been ticked off apart from the access issues. As soon as this gets sorted, we'll be good to go, however it does sound like quite alot of ££ is going to have to be spent to make it a safe turn off.

I am not giving up though. We will get there and it will be worth it.

(I took some of the Lakeland Dog Walker dogs up to the field today to get some photos for the planner and couldn't resist a photo shoot on the tree)

31/12/2024

Please be careful when driving up Goat Brow. The culvert under the road appears to have blocked again due to the severe amount of rainwater we have had today.
I have reported it to the Highways both online and via emergency phonecall, but there is alot of standing water on the road and I'd hate for an accident to occur before Highways are able to unblock it.

30/09/2024

If you commented on my Change of Use application earlier in the year, you should have received the below email.

Hopefully, this means it's all going through and I'll get an answer after 14th October 🤞

If you wish to pop in a comment of support or have any additional information that will help me get this venture up and running, please email this to Louise White on [email protected]

Thank you 🐾

‐ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Dear Sir/Madam

Re-consultation on planning application

Reference No: FUL/2024/0002

Applicant: Ms Naomi Le Voi

Proposal: Proposed change of use from agricultural field to use land as a secure exercise field for dog walking.

Location: Land At Papcastle Roundabout, Papcastle, CA13 0NT

Amendment: Flood risk assessment and amended visibility plan

Please indicate any observations you may have by e-mail to [email protected] or by separate letter.

In order to ensure that applications are dealt with as quickly as possible I would be grateful if you could reply by 14/10/2024.

Representations received after this date may be too late to influence the Local Planning Authority’s decision on this application.

Could you please mark any correspondence for the attention of Louise White.

Please note that all the information contained in this application can be viewed by the public and on our website -
https://cumberlandcouncil.my.site.com/pr3/s/planning-application/a3X3X00000M502WUAR

Yours faithfully

Louise White
Planning Officer

04/09/2024

Here is my very high-tech, accurate, and amazing drawing of my vision 😅
OK, so it's not to scale, it is a very rough drawing, but it is what I am working towards.
As far as I am aware, everything is submitted to the council now, so I'm just waiting for a yes or a no from them.
Everything is crossed I get the go-ahead as soon as possible 🤞

26/07/2024

A little update:

- I received the Flood Risk Assessment report back this week that I had to get done. In this assessment, it is recommended that I open up the culvert that often floods in the winter. Opening it up will allow the stream to fill up rather than overflow. It will also create a nice habitat for wildlife and a place for the dogs to drink from after their visit.

- I had a meeting with Wall & Tree Cockermouth yesterday about trimming back one of the ash trees on the land which is sadly dying (instead of taking the whole thing down, he's doing to trim it back and use the wood to create a wildlife corridor down the side of the field).

- I met with someone who (hopefully) will be granting me with lots of trees to plant down the middle of the field to seperate the two exercise areas (I need to apply for a grant, but he was very positive about my plans and thought I was in with a good chance of getting the grant 🤞)

- The grass has been cut and bailed thanks to Eddy Beard, so it's looking nice and tidy.

- I'm hoping to meet with my planner from Mitchells Auctioneers, Cockermouth this next week to discuss the access.

I think the main thing that is holding everything up is figuring out a safe way to enter and exit the field in a vehicle. If anyone has any ideas we can put forward, they'd he greatly received. At the moment, there is not good enough visibility looking down the hill when exiting the field.

So again, I'm so sorry I haven't got better news, but things are still happening behind the scenes. As soon as the change of use is granted, it'll be Go! Go! Go! to get up and running.

(We went for a family picnic in the field this evening. This is my husband, Matt, and our Goldendoodle, Bindi, pictured chilling on a hay bail).

12/06/2024

I'm no further on with the planning application unfortunately, so nothing new to report there, however I have dug up our front garden at home and extracted a number of plants and wildflowers and replanted them in a corner of the field.

My vision is to have lots of wildflowers and colourful dog friendly plants in the areas surrounding the exercise spaces, so it felt great to make a start on that this afternoon.

If you're digging up your garden and have any dog friendly plants, shrubs or trees going spare, I'll happily take them off your hands 😉

24/04/2024

A little update...

My field neighbour has put some of the most friendly sheep I've ever encountered on the field. They're doing a great job of keeping the grass down, and they come and say hello each time i walk through the gate..

The last few days have been productive.

I have met with the Counci/Highways to get advice on the field entrance.

I've met with my planning advisor, and we're looking at other options for field access for vehicles.

I've also met with Rubicon Project Consulting, who have advised on opening up the river that runs under the bottom of the field, drainage options and they're going to do a flood risk assessment for me.

So... things are happening behind the scenes, albeit VERY slowly.

Thank you for your patience.

11/03/2024

EIGHTY FIVE of you! That's absolutely amazing!

Thank you so much for the 85 comments of support for Paws in the Paddock. It really does mean so much to have this amount of backing from the local community.

I've had 5 objections with the main issue being the parking, so this may need a rethink.

The other 2 main issues seem to be noise (understandable, but there will be a limit on the number of dogs in the field at any one time AND everyone that uses the field has to pre book so we'll know exaxtly what dogs are in at all times)
Secondly, dog poo - bins and poo bags will be provided and emptied regularly and the spaces where the dogs will be exercises is a good 50m away from the stream).

I think all we can do now is wait and see now 🤞

To read some of the comments, go to this link: https://cumberlandcouncil.my.site.com/pr3/s/planning-application/a3X3X00000M502WUAR/ful20240002?c__r=Arcus_BE_Public_Register&fbclid=IwAR2NSxJkClEQq1F9CxefTlGyDCM39Ghm1TcuKkLKlw3PsGgoOfX5Q4l-WLg&tabset-dfed1=2

08/03/2024

I need your help.

Today is the last day for anyone to write to the council in support or to object to my plans (it appears you can still submit comments today - Saturday)

I know this is late in the day, but I hadn't realised I had a number of people objecting to the plans and not one person has written in support 😬

Most of the objections are down to parking. I'm hoping to create parking on the land for up for 4 cars (hopefully 6), therefore parking will not be needed in the village.

I'm wanting to put up 6foot fences for security and to make sure no dogs can escape into the neighbouring fields.

One person has questioned if kennels will be added at a later date. I 100% will not be wanting to build kennels or any other permanent building on the land. I'm simply wanting to create a safe place where people can let their dogs off lead during daylight hours.

I did spend ages writing up a detailed report to be handed in with my plans, but the planner advised to keep it as simple as possible, therefore the details the objectors want, are not there to be viewed. So I apologise about this - if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

It will only take a few minutes to submit your comments, but it will be hugely beneficial if I am to be granted permission to set up Paws in the Paddock.

Thank you
Naomi

The link:
https://cumberlandcouncil.my.site.com/pr3/s/planning-application/a3X3X00000M502WUAR/ful20240002?c__r=Arcus_BE_Public_Register&fbclid=IwAR2DAYCE_jUQSeQk8bqkd74dELA0-i6xLAxWUqiQGWWhXIchwgSPhcMctgw&tabset-dfed1=2

19/02/2024

One step closer.
Fingers crossed we get an answer soon and we can get the work started 🤞

https://cumberlandcouncil.my.site.com/pr3/s/planning-application/a3X3X00000M502WUAR/ful20240002?c__r=Arcus_BE_Public_Register

02/01/2024

Happy New Year.
2024 will be the year of Paws in the Paddock! I can't wait!

It's taken sooo much longer than I expected just to get to this stage, but the plans have been submitted today woop woop.

It's going to take about 12 weeks to get it all approved and before work can start on the field itself, so my original timeline of getting it open for Easter is out the window unfortunately.

I'll keep you updated.

🤞🤞everything is crossed 🤞🤞

17/11/2023

I've just enjoyed a week in Tunisia for a family holiday. We had 7 days of wall to wall sunshine.
I came back yesterday, and everyone was saying how bad the weather had been. I didn't believe them until I got to the field and discovered a new swimming pool 🤨
I think we chose a good week to go away 😅

(Luckily, this is water running off the field. It looks like the culvert that runs under the road has broken and has caused water to come up and through my gateway instead of taking its usual course underground. Ita been reported to the Council who have passed it to the highways).

03/11/2023

It was an exciting day today: the field now has a gate on it (thank you, Eddy Beard).

23/10/2023

It's so lovely that everyone seems as excited about the dog exercise fields as I do.

As I've been walking around town, I've had a number of people stop me to ask when I think I will be up and running.

I started the planning process, got the forms filled in and the statement written up but then I started doubting myself. It is costing quite a lot of money to submit the plans, so I want to get it right the first time (to save time and money), therefore I have decided to hire someone to do it all for me.

It is estimated that it will take about 12 weeks for the plans to be (hopefully) accepted, then at a guess, another 4-6 weeks to get the car parking area down, fencing erected and shelters/storage shed put in place.

So, the date I am going to aim for to be open, is 5 months from today - Saturday 23rd March 2024 - which is the start of the Easter school holidays.

This date is obviously not set in stone as so much can happen, but it's a date to work towards.

I will keep you updated with the process.

11/10/2023

A big shout out to Jamie Rayson who came and cut the grass for me when the sale completed. It would have taken days to cut the grass with my little flymo. Jamie did this in his tractor in a couple of hours.

The shorter grass makes the land look even bigger too!

09/10/2023

We have lots of wild flowers in our garden at home, as well as a number of huge sunflowers. I've been drying out the sunflower heads and collecting the wild flower seeds (mostly poppy seeds) ready to create a sunflower patch and wild flower gardens on the land outside of the dog exercise areas.

It's not just going to be an area for dogs to play safely, but a space for wildlife and insects too (plus it will look really pretty).

07/10/2023

This is our location.

As you can see, the area is surrounded by other fields which makes it more private and secure.

The plan is to create two enclosed areas in this space: One will be left as a field for lots of zoomies, the other will have enrichment stations and obstacles to play on.

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Goat Brow

CA130NT

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I've just enjoyed a week in Tunisia for a family holiday. We had 7 days of wall to wall sunshine. I came back yesterday, and everyone was saying how bad the weather had been. I didn't believe them until I got to the field and discovered a new swimming pool 🤨 I think we chose a good week to go away 😅 (Luckily, this is water running off the field. It looks like the culvert that runs under the road has broken and has caused water to come up and through my gateway instead of taking its usual course underground. Ita been reported to the Council who have passed it to the highways).

A big shout out to Jamie Rayson who came and cut the grass for me when the sale completed. It would have taken days to cut the grass with my little flymo. Jamie did this in his tractor in a couple of hours. The shorter grass makes the land look even bigger too!

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