A bid to open a dog exercising area near Newton Mearns has been rejected despite council planners recommending the project could go ahead.

Plans to use land at Pilmuir Road as a commercial dog walking facility were submitted to East Renfrewshire Council, but over 15 objections to the scheme were received.

Officials believed the proposal could be given the green light but members of the planning committee decided against granting permission.

The applicant, Ian Darroch, wanted to change the use of the site, which was formerly part of Pilmuir Quarry.  His application stated: “The facility will not be offered directly to the public but will be restricted to use by existing dog walking companies or businesses.”

Objectors claimed allowing dogs on the site could drive away wildlife, including deer and nesting birds, and raised concerns over the potential use of “anti-social” lighting on dark nights.

They disputed the description of the land, as a field, as they believe it is a woodland, and questioned the need for the proposed facility.

One objector said: “This change to commercial land for use as a dog run would have a significant impact on the character of the local area and on the green belt as a whole.”

Another opponent to the plan added: “This is a beautiful unspoilt wood, not a field as stated. It contains significant and important numbers of wildlife which are essential to the ecosystem of the local area.”

However, council officials reported the plan would not “involve a significant amount of development and it is therefore not considered that it would adversely affect the character of the rural area or compromise the function of the greenbelt.”

Fencing was proposed to keep deer out of the site.

An unauthorised access to the site had already been created, and would have been replaced with a new access “opposite the entrance of a former quarry” if the plans had been approved.

Some trees would have been removed under the scheme, although a council official said replacement planting was planned.

The applicant had hoped to open the facility from 7am to 9pm from April to September and 7am to 7pm between October and March.

Councillor Andrew Morrison, Conservative, said: “I note that lighting is one of the concerns within the 18 representations and it is a concern that I would share with regards to the impact on nature because it is quite a rural setting.”

Councillor Annette Ireland, SNP, said: “That was concerning to me as well, because I noticed the opening hours were until 7pm from October to March and it’s dark by the back of 4.

“They are going to need lighting, there is no other option if that’s the opening hours proposed.”

The council official said there had been “no indication” there would be lighting but proposed planning conditions sought “to control” the issue.

Councillor Morrison, who proposed rejecting the application, said he had concerns around “wildlife, lighting, roads access.”

Councillor Ireland said she believed it “would have an adverse impact on the character and amenity of the area” and was contrary to national planning policies on biodiversity and woodland.