RE: Castle Combe attacked by local council
Discussion
I was at Combe a few weeks ago and love the place.
Typical Council bull sh1t. They dont seem to be happy unless they ar etrying to disrupt something of interest to a lot of people and a positive benefit to the local community.
It would be a different story if they were running races for Asylum Seekers or single mums. They would probably claim a noise limit of 100db was trying to silence them and their views and order it to be doubled.
Tw4t5
Typical Council bull sh1t. They dont seem to be happy unless they ar etrying to disrupt something of interest to a lot of people and a positive benefit to the local community.
It would be a different story if they were running races for Asylum Seekers or single mums. They would probably claim a noise limit of 100db was trying to silence them and their views and order it to be doubled.
Tw4t5
The track has been there since 1950.
Therefore, only those living in the area prior to this have the faintest justification in complaining.
Anyone moving there since 1950 should know the track is there. Whether the knew or not, surely this is too damn bad and their fault for not researching their property purchase more thoroughly.
The council should be told where to stick their complaint.
Therefore, only those living in the area prior to this have the faintest justification in complaining.
Anyone moving there since 1950 should know the track is there. Whether the knew or not, surely this is too damn bad and their fault for not researching their property purchase more thoroughly.
The council should be told where to stick their complaint.
I wrote to each and every councillor last night and pointed out the contribution that I and several colleagues make to local businesses on race weekends plus the fact that my missus and two mates now regularly have a weekend break in the area following my recommendation.
All that free advertising and trade would go up in smoke if they cracked down at Combe. The fact that the team there regularly produce the biggest GT crowds of the season and some of the best racing just makes this worse.
I'd urge everyone here to (politely) make their feelings known.
All that free advertising and trade would go up in smoke if they cracked down at Combe. The fact that the team there regularly produce the biggest GT crowds of the season and some of the best racing just makes this worse.
I'd urge everyone here to (politely) make their feelings known.
Just emailed every single one of them ask that they don't do this.
Just cut and paste the list below.......
BTW I had to split the list into 4 as Wanadoo won't let me send to more than about 15 people.
dallen@northwilts.gov.uk; pallnatt@northwilts.gov.uk; abaines@northwilts.gov.uk; dbarton@northwilts.gov.uk; tbriggs@northwilts.gov.uk; nbryant@northwilts.gov.uk; Allison.Bucknell@btinternet.com; rcoleman@northwilts.gov.uk; dconstable@northwilts.gov.uk; scoy@northwilts.gov.uk; ccrisp@northwilts.gov.uk; ddarby@northwilts.gov.uk; adavis@northwilts.gov.uk; pdavis@northwilts.gov.uk; hdixon@northwilts.gov.uk; kdixon@northwilts.gov.uk; doubell@northwilts.gov.uk;
davidjevans@northwilts.gov.uk; pgoldstone@northwilts.gov.uk; ggreenaway@northwilts.gov.uk; hgreenman@northwilts.gov.uk;
pgreen@northwilts.gov.uk; mgroom@northwilts.gov.uk; mhatton@northwilts.gov.uk; ihenderson@northwilts.gov.uk; rhenning@northwilts.gov.uk; jireland@northwilts.gov.uk; rjackson@northwilts.gov.uk; hjones@northwilts.gov.uk; rmacgregor@northwilts.gov.uk; nmaidment@northwilts.gov.uk; dmoore@northwilts.gov.uk; tnorthey@northwilts.gov.uk; Cogorman@northwilts.gov.uk; gofford@northwilts.gov.uk; nphillips@northwilts.gov.uk; jread@northwilts.gov.uk; creid@northwilts.gov.uk; proberts@northwilts.gov.uk; jrooke@northwilts.gov.uk; mrousell@northwilts.gov.uk; janescott@northwilts.gov.uk; shf@easynet.co.uk; tsturgis@northwilts.gov.uk; othomas@northwilts.gov.uk; jthomson@northwilts.gov.uk;
rtonge@northwilts.gov.uk; swalls@northwilts.gov.uk; cwannell@northwilts.gov.uk; rwatkins@northwilts.gov.uk; mwest@northwilts.gov.uk; jwood@northwilts.gov.uk
Just cut and paste the list below.......
BTW I had to split the list into 4 as Wanadoo won't let me send to more than about 15 people.
dallen@northwilts.gov.uk; pallnatt@northwilts.gov.uk; abaines@northwilts.gov.uk; dbarton@northwilts.gov.uk; tbriggs@northwilts.gov.uk; nbryant@northwilts.gov.uk; Allison.Bucknell@btinternet.com; rcoleman@northwilts.gov.uk; dconstable@northwilts.gov.uk; scoy@northwilts.gov.uk; ccrisp@northwilts.gov.uk; ddarby@northwilts.gov.uk; adavis@northwilts.gov.uk; pdavis@northwilts.gov.uk; hdixon@northwilts.gov.uk; kdixon@northwilts.gov.uk; doubell@northwilts.gov.uk;
davidjevans@northwilts.gov.uk; pgoldstone@northwilts.gov.uk; ggreenaway@northwilts.gov.uk; hgreenman@northwilts.gov.uk;
pgreen@northwilts.gov.uk; mgroom@northwilts.gov.uk; mhatton@northwilts.gov.uk; ihenderson@northwilts.gov.uk; rhenning@northwilts.gov.uk; jireland@northwilts.gov.uk; rjackson@northwilts.gov.uk; hjones@northwilts.gov.uk; rmacgregor@northwilts.gov.uk; nmaidment@northwilts.gov.uk; dmoore@northwilts.gov.uk; tnorthey@northwilts.gov.uk; Cogorman@northwilts.gov.uk; gofford@northwilts.gov.uk; nphillips@northwilts.gov.uk; jread@northwilts.gov.uk; creid@northwilts.gov.uk; proberts@northwilts.gov.uk; jrooke@northwilts.gov.uk; mrousell@northwilts.gov.uk; janescott@northwilts.gov.uk; shf@easynet.co.uk; tsturgis@northwilts.gov.uk; othomas@northwilts.gov.uk; jthomson@northwilts.gov.uk;
rtonge@northwilts.gov.uk; swalls@northwilts.gov.uk; cwannell@northwilts.gov.uk; rwatkins@northwilts.gov.uk; mwest@northwilts.gov.uk; jwood@northwilts.gov.uk
Reminds me of an article I read last year about a couple who moved into a cute cottage in a lovely village, right by the beautiful churchyard and then promptly tried to slap a noise abatement order on the church because the bells were annoying. Oh, the bells.....
Did you not see the church!!??!!?!?!?
....that has been there since C16!?!?!?
MONKEYS!!!
Did you not see the church!!??!!?!?!?
....that has been there since C16!?!?!?
MONKEYS!!!
miniman said:
If you live nr castle combe and you find the track an annoyance I will happily buy your 3 bed house for 50,000. Which if it's such an annoyance will be a fair value. If you do not consider that a fair value then it's not annoying is it!
Absolutely spot on. I'll be next in the queue...
I'll be close behind - I won't have to live in a tent for the race weekends then.
At last year's F3/GT weekend the circuit put a couple of noses out of joint by pulling one of the TVR teams on the Saturday for being too noisy and then I think the same car had to sit out Sunday warm-up because (despite their best efforts) the crew hadn't been able to quieten it down enough.
It's 5 hours a YEAR FFS
Fekkers!
That track is the only reason I agreed with the misses to move to the area! I wanted to move to Tiddly Wink to be right on the door step, but 'er indoors said it would be too far out in the sticks
The only reason these things get to the council is if one of the members or their friend has just moved there, but who would move there, and not realise there's a racing circuit???
I'll be writing to them tonight!
That track is the only reason I agreed with the misses to move to the area! I wanted to move to Tiddly Wink to be right on the door step, but 'er indoors said it would be too far out in the sticks
The only reason these things get to the council is if one of the members or their friend has just moved there, but who would move there, and not realise there's a racing circuit???
I'll be writing to them tonight!
Dear Sir/Madam
I am deeply disappointed to hear a rumour that the local authority is perusing a noise complaint against the above motor racing circuit.
Please tell me this is not true???
Motor racing has got progressively quieter over the years and (this is a fact) many road legal mass production cars actually fail noise tests and are unable to take part in private track hire days. This is truly amazing since the EU feel these vehicles are perfectly legal to drive past your front door.
Yet when a circuit has been operating for 55 years bringing in countless millions of pounds for the local economy, thousands of visitors to the area, an international reputation and a part of (Motorsport) history, a handful of local residents can jeopardise everything.
Had these residents been in situ prior to the circuit opening then I would have sympathy. I'm sure everyone purchased their property in the last 55 years and quite frankly I fairly feel have not got a leg to stand on.
The reality of Castle Combe being restricted is ultimately closure which would eventually mean redevelopment to a housing or industrial estate. Please tell these whinging, bigoted, narrow minded, myopic fools that this would make their area worse as it would be subject to much more continuous vehicle movements in the area, all of which ironically, would probably fail a noise test at the track.
Yours in despair at the selfish attitudes of a few,
Mark Adams
That
told 'em! 
If you write to these people you must label the envelope with, and I might have this slightly wrong, "Private and Confidential"
This would require the person you write to and only them to open the envelope.
Anyone else that opens it is breaking a serious law, one that carries a sentence of hanging!
Seriously though it is a very serious crime to open mail not addressed to yourself, so it would then that everyone sent these councillors letters they would have to spend time opening them at the very least.
This would require the person you write to and only them to open the envelope.
Anyone else that opens it is breaking a serious law, one that carries a sentence of hanging!
Seriously though it is a very serious crime to open mail not addressed to yourself, so it would then that everyone sent these councillors letters they would have to spend time opening them at the very least.
Being practical, is there anyone on here with the experience/skill of dealing with local councillors? Clearly this is a rather silly state of affairs, but there doesn't appear to be a clear killer argument. It would appear that we each need to build a case around several points to demonstrate the common good (though each point on its own could be dismissed). We also lack many hard facts. The obvious points are:
- Preknowledge: The circuit has existed without significant change for 50 years. It's existence should have been clear (and come up in searches) for any person who has purchased their house after this time. Its presence will be factored into heouse price. In short, they should have known. I live under the Heathrow flightpath (where scale has reduced, but duration and intensity have increased), so I know about this.
- Consideration: Noise levels (mandated by the MSA) have reduced over the years. The circuit has sought to limit noise (scale and duration) and leakage into the environment, though I have few details.
- Scale of the Problem: Less than six hours per annum. Combe is alos very heavily restricted in the number of events it can hold.
- Benefit to the community: We have a figure of approximately £10m pa brought in. We should also note that the circuit will be paying very significant business rates. If their business is restricted, they will no doubt seek compensation.
- Benefit to the Sport: Removing the event will compromise Combe's business severely, as it is one of the best income generators. This could place the future of the venue in doubt. Combe is the only circuit servicing the entire South West (the next closest are Thruxton and Silverstone). If the venue's future is jeopardised by this notice, the region will be unsupported. In turn (over and above the stated economic benefit), this would compromise a number of related businesses across the region.
- Scale of the Complaint: How many households complained? How many support the circuit and refused to subscribe to the complaint? How many aren't really bothered?
Hopefully, someone can come up with the relevant supporting facts to help us write a logical defence. In some cases we won't get the facts (such as the scale of complaint), but we should at least raise the question in the minds of the councillors.
Also, if someone can assist in preparing a defence, it will make it easier for more of us to make the effort to write in. So come on, help, please.
- Preknowledge: The circuit has existed without significant change for 50 years. It's existence should have been clear (and come up in searches) for any person who has purchased their house after this time. Its presence will be factored into heouse price. In short, they should have known. I live under the Heathrow flightpath (where scale has reduced, but duration and intensity have increased), so I know about this.
- Consideration: Noise levels (mandated by the MSA) have reduced over the years. The circuit has sought to limit noise (scale and duration) and leakage into the environment, though I have few details.
- Scale of the Problem: Less than six hours per annum. Combe is alos very heavily restricted in the number of events it can hold.
- Benefit to the community: We have a figure of approximately £10m pa brought in. We should also note that the circuit will be paying very significant business rates. If their business is restricted, they will no doubt seek compensation.
- Benefit to the Sport: Removing the event will compromise Combe's business severely, as it is one of the best income generators. This could place the future of the venue in doubt. Combe is the only circuit servicing the entire South West (the next closest are Thruxton and Silverstone). If the venue's future is jeopardised by this notice, the region will be unsupported. In turn (over and above the stated economic benefit), this would compromise a number of related businesses across the region.
- Scale of the Complaint: How many households complained? How many support the circuit and refused to subscribe to the complaint? How many aren't really bothered?
Hopefully, someone can come up with the relevant supporting facts to help us write a logical defence. In some cases we won't get the facts (such as the scale of complaint), but we should at least raise the question in the minds of the councillors.
Also, if someone can assist in preparing a defence, it will make it easier for more of us to make the effort to write in. So come on, help, please.
my email blast to the list above is as follows(and read a reply at end):
I am writing to you as a group so that you get to see the intense interest the recent rash of events at Castle Coombe have caused us in the motoring public to endure. I was highly disturbed to read that you have instigated noise proceedings at such a fine and historical venue as Castle Coombe. I am a sportscar driver, a taxpayer, and a customer. I vote with my cheque book, and have attended many well organised events at Castle Coombe over the last 10 years. On all occasions, there has been a very professional and considerate group of people, who run Castle Coombe.
Being a motorist, I have frequently observed people coming to/from Castle Coombe being waved at in a friendly manner by those that live around the circuit for behaving in a responsible manner. I have never observed whoever the element is that has brought the complaint that you are now reviewing. I do not find the noise loud there; on the contrary I find if I roll my window down on the M4 I hear far greater noise from passing lorries, etc than whilst at Castle Coombe.Thus I find it particularly disturbing that some person(s) who are probably people that have knowingly moved house near the track are now complaining like stupid Americans about the noise.
Should you cause the track to cease trading, or to restrict events that lead to my family and I coming to your county, I will personally to my dying day never spend another pence in your county. You may want to know that when we come to Castle Coombe, we make a weekend of it, staying in local B&Bs, going to local pubs & restaurants. All generate tax revenue that you will lose with my custom. I urge you in the strongest terms to seek an alternative with the complainant -- the hundreds of thousands that come to the venue certainly aren't complaining. That should tell you a lot about the situation to hand. I implore you to not do something foolhardy, nearsighted, or overly PC here -- our country is being ruined by just that and we need to keep British motorsport activities alive, less they go to another country and you play a part in making more be unemployed and on the dole!
I've had one reply to the above:
-------------------------------
I am responding to this e-mail as I opposed the imposition of the noise abatement order and I am firmly in the camp of the pro racing lobby of Castle Coombe circuit. I have recently brought my objections to the attention of both the Chief Executive of NWDC and to the local press in response to lobbying from the management of the circuit with whom I agree.
Sincerely
John Ireland
Copy of e-mail sent to Chief Executive NWDC in Nov 2004
Dear Bob, I was horrified to learn that the Environmental Health team are to take action against the circuit that may well result in the banning of a certain weekend fixture owing to some complaints of noise pollution.
This circuit brings a considerable amount of revenue to the area and the noise is, I believe, within acceptable limits considering the type of venue. To bring in a ban just to satisfy the few local people who have complained, would be counter productive in the extreme. When you also take into account that the race meeting that has sparked this furore brings nearly £2.7 million on that weekend alone to the area, surely any punitive action by the council would be against the best interests of the community as a whole. I am acutely aware of problems such as this and I have been accused several times of being too parochial in my outlook by some of my so called colleagues over my support for the little man, but this action goes far beyond that. It reminds me of the reason Harris's left Calne and Dyson Chippenham, followed by Malmesbury and the UK, it is that this council (and it's forbear) consistently disallow businesses to expand or to carry on, effectively causing hardship to those people who lose their livelihood's (and in some cases their homes) as a result, but at the same time allowing developers to rape this area in search of quick profits by building huge housing estates on green land. We must have a bit of balance her, common sense must prevail.
Castle Combe has been in existence as a race track for over 50 years and prior to that, it was an RAF station, so any complaints of noise now are being generated by just a vociferous few whose personal interests seem to take precedence over all else. I urge you to look at this issue afresh and to recognise that this race course is an asset to our local economy that must be allowed to flourish.
Regards
John
>> Edited by Steve-B on Wednesday 23 February 15:30
I am writing to you as a group so that you get to see the intense interest the recent rash of events at Castle Coombe have caused us in the motoring public to endure. I was highly disturbed to read that you have instigated noise proceedings at such a fine and historical venue as Castle Coombe. I am a sportscar driver, a taxpayer, and a customer. I vote with my cheque book, and have attended many well organised events at Castle Coombe over the last 10 years. On all occasions, there has been a very professional and considerate group of people, who run Castle Coombe.
Being a motorist, I have frequently observed people coming to/from Castle Coombe being waved at in a friendly manner by those that live around the circuit for behaving in a responsible manner. I have never observed whoever the element is that has brought the complaint that you are now reviewing. I do not find the noise loud there; on the contrary I find if I roll my window down on the M4 I hear far greater noise from passing lorries, etc than whilst at Castle Coombe.Thus I find it particularly disturbing that some person(s) who are probably people that have knowingly moved house near the track are now complaining like stupid Americans about the noise.
Should you cause the track to cease trading, or to restrict events that lead to my family and I coming to your county, I will personally to my dying day never spend another pence in your county. You may want to know that when we come to Castle Coombe, we make a weekend of it, staying in local B&Bs, going to local pubs & restaurants. All generate tax revenue that you will lose with my custom. I urge you in the strongest terms to seek an alternative with the complainant -- the hundreds of thousands that come to the venue certainly aren't complaining. That should tell you a lot about the situation to hand. I implore you to not do something foolhardy, nearsighted, or overly PC here -- our country is being ruined by just that and we need to keep British motorsport activities alive, less they go to another country and you play a part in making more be unemployed and on the dole!
I've had one reply to the above:
-------------------------------
I am responding to this e-mail as I opposed the imposition of the noise abatement order and I am firmly in the camp of the pro racing lobby of Castle Coombe circuit. I have recently brought my objections to the attention of both the Chief Executive of NWDC and to the local press in response to lobbying from the management of the circuit with whom I agree.
Sincerely
John Ireland
Copy of e-mail sent to Chief Executive NWDC in Nov 2004
Dear Bob, I was horrified to learn that the Environmental Health team are to take action against the circuit that may well result in the banning of a certain weekend fixture owing to some complaints of noise pollution.
This circuit brings a considerable amount of revenue to the area and the noise is, I believe, within acceptable limits considering the type of venue. To bring in a ban just to satisfy the few local people who have complained, would be counter productive in the extreme. When you also take into account that the race meeting that has sparked this furore brings nearly £2.7 million on that weekend alone to the area, surely any punitive action by the council would be against the best interests of the community as a whole. I am acutely aware of problems such as this and I have been accused several times of being too parochial in my outlook by some of my so called colleagues over my support for the little man, but this action goes far beyond that. It reminds me of the reason Harris's left Calne and Dyson Chippenham, followed by Malmesbury and the UK, it is that this council (and it's forbear) consistently disallow businesses to expand or to carry on, effectively causing hardship to those people who lose their livelihood's (and in some cases their homes) as a result, but at the same time allowing developers to rape this area in search of quick profits by building huge housing estates on green land. We must have a bit of balance her, common sense must prevail.
Castle Combe has been in existence as a race track for over 50 years and prior to that, it was an RAF station, so any complaints of noise now are being generated by just a vociferous few whose personal interests seem to take precedence over all else. I urge you to look at this issue afresh and to recognise that this race course is an asset to our local economy that must be allowed to flourish.
Regards
John
>> Edited by Steve-B on Wednesday 23 February 15:30
Further pieces picked from another site:
"Had an e-mail from rodney gooch today,
ANY LETTERS OF SUPPORT SEND DIRECTLY TO THE CIRCUIT
SO THEY CAN PRESENT A SACK TO THE LOCAL COUNCIL
ADDRESS IS ON THE WEBSITE www.castlecombecircuit.co.uk"
You may wish to do this in addition to petitionning the local councillors
"Had an e-mail from rodney gooch today,
ANY LETTERS OF SUPPORT SEND DIRECTLY TO THE CIRCUIT
SO THEY CAN PRESENT A SACK TO THE LOCAL COUNCIL
ADDRESS IS ON THE WEBSITE www.castlecombecircuit.co.uk"
You may wish to do this in addition to petitionning the local councillors
HiRich said:
- Preknowledge: The circuit has existed without significant change for 50 years. It's existence should have been clear (and come up in searches) for any person who has purchased their house after this time. Its presence will be factored into heouse price. In short, they should have known. I live under the Heathrow flightpath (where scale has reduced, but duration and intensity have increased), so I know about this.
The circuit, and in Particular since Howard has owned the Circuit has under gone signifigant change, one of the biggest has been the building of Spetator banking which has reduced the noise around the area to a much better level since the flat days of the 50's
I've had 2 replies so far
and
Keep 'em coming!
>> Edited by jacobyte on Wednesday 23 February 15:55
John Ireland said:
I am responding to this e-mail as I opposed the imposition of the noise abatement order and I am firmly in the camp of the pro racing lobby of Castle Coombe circuit. I have recently brought my objections to the attention of both the Chief Executive of NWDC and to the local press in response to lobbying from the management of the circuit with whom I agree.
Sincerely
John Ireland
and
Allison Bucknell said:
I have approached the head of Environment Health to ascertain what the current situation is and to see if there is a way forward.
I have many contacts at the circuit, and am sympathetic to your plight.
Not sure what can be done, but I am not ignoring you.
Regards
Cllr Allison Bucknell
Keep 'em coming!
>> Edited by jacobyte on Wednesday 23 February 15:55
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