Proposed dog park in Midlothian 'will help tackle issues with pet attacks'

A new dog park in Midlothian will help tackle issues with attacks in the area, planners are being told.

The application to turn farmland used by the SRUC into a secure dog park, alongside new business and storage units, says it will let owners of pets who cannot be off the lead around other animals the chance to exercise them.

In their supporting statement, applicant G Mathison Commercial Ltd says there will be a number of secure dog park areas available for people to use during the day, with the car park currently used by Pentland Hills Regional Park providing spaces for it.

They said: “Given the number of dog attacks within the Pentlands area, the proposed dog parks offer a safe and secure environment for people to train dogs or exercise reactive dogs.

“They also provide a suitable facility for dogs that can’t be allowed off the lead near animals to run around and exercise. The dog parks also provide a place for people to meet and exercised their dogs together off the lead where many other surrounding may not be suitable or safe for them or others.”

The application for land at Boghall, Auchendinny, which is used as a research and education farm, also includes a change of use for buildings to allow them to be used for a mixture of business and storage spaces which can be rented out.

Additional plans show outside areas also used for storage with containers and open yard areas.

It adds a full time job will be created for someone to manage the dog parks and businesses on the site.