A farmer has been given the green light for his dog-walking business, more than five years after accepting his first customer.

Tristan Russell this week appeared before Maidstone council’s planning committee to seek retrospective permission for the secure exercise field he has created on former agricultural land opposite the entrance to his farm in Summerhill Road, Marden.

His wife Cllr Claudine Russell, who is the council’s cabinet member for communities leisure and the arts, excused herself from the chamber while her husband’s application was debated.

In written submissions to the committee, Mr Russell - who is himself standing as a Conservative candidate at the borough council elections in May - said: “I can only apologise that I did not realise previously that planning permission for a change of use was required.”

But he said: “The site is appropriately located and does not harm the appearance or amenity of the area and I hope is an asset in avoiding dog aggression accidents either when walking public footpaths or livestock incidents.”

Mr Russell accepted his first customer in December 2018.

He charges dog owners £6 an hour to exercise their pets on the half-hectare site, which is securely fenced.

As well as legitimising the present use, Mr Russell’s application sought permission to extend the exercise area and add a two-space car park by the existing entrance.

Officers said the application was a departure from the Local Plan as it was contrary to policies restricting development in the countryside.

However, they accepted the visual alteration to the field was minimal and that it was well-screened by hedgerows, and so an exception to planning policy could be made.

Cllr Tony Harwood (Lib Dem) proposed a minor additional condition that small gaps be left in the fencing to allow the through-passage of hedgehogs and other animals.

Permission was granted by a unanimous vote.

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The dog-walking field can only operate in daylight and at the most between 7am and 7pm.

There is no lighting on the site. The business must be restricted to four dogs at a time.