Owners of a motocross track beat objections over noise fears from local residents and councillors to win planning permission.
The application for the motocross practice track east of the M1 near Crick (Northampton, UK) was recommended for approval by planning officers but faced opposition from nearby residents, with reservations coming from some councillors.
The track wanted to increase the number of ride days from the 14 days allowed under general planning rules which require no approval.
Previously discussed by the Daventry District Council’s planning committee, they deferred making a decision to allow for those concerned over noise to make a site visit and to allow for evidence produced by the applicant to be reviewed by an independent consultant.
The planned site visit was called off after too few members signed up to attend. A number of members who were inclined to approve the application first time around had already said they felt no need to attend, while some others made their own arrangements to walk around the villages and countryside when the track was open for practice.
The consultant agreed the noise report in the application was accurate given the conditions in which the measurements were taken, and that it showed minimal impact on the neighbouring villages.
Cllr Ken Ritchie told the Daventry Express that during a two-hour walk around the various nearby villages that he found it: “Very difficult to hear any motorcycle noise above the general hum of the traffic on the M1 and other roads.” However, Cllr Alan Chantler said he had heard loud noise from the site at one point in particular in Yelvertoft.
The neighbouring parish councils had all objected based on noise and other issues, like traffic.
Thankfully, most councillors considered the evidence before them meant there should be no statutory nuisance of noise from the track.
There are still conditions on the application, which include limits on the number of days a week it can operate, and restrictionsāØ on the hours of day bikes can run.
Environmental health officers at the planning meeting said they would endeavour to have an officer on site that same day to record noise if they received complaints about noise.
The application was approved following a vote.
