Friday, June 22, 2007

Illegal UK Track Can Stay

A racetrack at the centre of a long-running planning dispute has won a reprieve.

Planners wanted the track, at WildTracks off-road activity park near Newmarket, to be ripped up because they had not given permission for it.

People living near the track, which lies between Chippenham and Kennett, complained about noise levels.

But Ruth Kelly, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, has ruled that the track can stay. She has imposed noise limits and other conditions intended to cut disturbance to villagers.

Her ruling follows a public inquiry held earlier in the year.

As well as being allowed to keep the track, used mainly for kart racing, WildTracks can keep earth banks round part of the track.

In her findings, Ms Kelly said: "A balance can be struck in all the circumstances between the enjoyment of participants in the outdoor events and minimising nuisance to others."

Conditions include a ban on Supermoto motorcycle racing and car "drifting" - where cars do tyre-squealing manoeuvres.

Time limits and noise limits have been set on use of the track, built nearly four years ago.

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