COUNCILLORS “reluctantly” voted through an application to turn farmland into a nature reserve to provide dog walkers at a Godalming development somewhere to exercise their pets.

The Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG) in Eashing Lane, Godalming, will be established to support existing residents as well as new families who will move into Ockford Park once the homes are built.

Councillor Marsha Moseley, chairman of Guildford Borough Council (GBC) planning committee, said she felt “quite badly” about the decision to grant permission for the SANG but the borough council had lost appeals on applications refused in the past which had left members feeling “quite sore”.

Waverley Borough Council voted to allow the 262 housing estate in Aarons Hill, but the development was tied up with the decision by Guildford over the SANG site in Eashing Lane, which would support green space for the new residents.

A SANG is an area of green belt land designated for leisure and recreational use for residents living in a certain area as an alternative to them using or walking dogs at a special protection area.

More than 100 residents signed a petition against the change of use of the land with 38 letters of objection also sent to GBC.

Speaking at the planning meeting on Wednesday, February 27, residents and councillors from Guildford and Waverley said the location of the SANG meant it would be difficult for residents to walk to the site as the road was “hazardous”.

But Tracy Puttock from Ockford Park developers Ashill Land Ltd said the site would divert people away from using nearby Special Protection Areas to walk their dogs.

She said: “This will be one option for dog walkers. Ockford Park will have a site for dog walkers as well.”

An 18-space car park will be built at the site and there will be a circular pedestrian path.

Surrey County Council Highway Authority said they felt access to the reserve was “acceptable” and Natural England had no objections.

Councillors said they sympathised with residents’ concerns, but had lost three appeals after refusing decisions on previous SANG applications.

Mrs Moseley, said: “I think we all feel quite badly about this type of application but we have lost a few and we feel quite sore about it.”

The SANG will serve residents in a 4km radius to the site and means it has met a condition set out attached to the Ockford Park development.

* The controversial planning application for 262 homes at Aarons Hill was voted through by 16 Waverley borough councillors after a three-hour debate in January.

Two councillors voted against the application which includes 78 affordable homes, changes to Eahing Road, a community hall and parking for more than 500 cars.

Elizabeth Sims, head of planning, said the area had been removed from the green belt and was a “strategic site” which will help the council meet its housing numbers over the next five years.

Kirsty Walden from Godalming Town Council said the town council wanted a masterplan for the site which also backs on to Guildford Borough Council land where a proposal for a similar number of homes could soon be submitted.