Dog exercise paddock in Midsomer Norton starts fight back against closure

The dog exercise park in Midsomer Norton which was marked up as closing next week is now fighting to stay open, with thousands backing a campaign to keep it open following a planning row.

Pip's was due to close on September 1 following what the owners have called : " Complaints from a few neighbours."

Pip's Paddock was started during lockdown in Somer Avenue as a safe space to exercise dogs which needed a private exercise place such as dogs with recall problems or ones who were particularly nervous.

But Steve Greeman and his family were told they needed planning permission to change the field, owned by the family from agricultural to commercial.

They had some supportive comments but the planning permission for change of use was denied and after a lengthy battle, they decided to shut up the paddock from next week.

They originally posted that some people were setting out to ruin them and " We no longer have any fight left in us, so we will bow out gracefully."

But now the couple posted : " After some consideration, and thanks to all of your unwavering support, we have decided to appeal the decision from the council. " A petition for support has over 1,300 signatures from residents who want them to fight on.

You can sign that petition by clicking HERE : the Save Pip's Paddock petition where supporters also explain the background to their campaign

While originally the owners posted that the venture : " Was fun while it lasted" it now seems clear they will fight on for that fun to continue.

You can read the Midsomer Norton Nub News profile of the business HERE : which details how popular the site was with dog owners