Wednesday 23rd February 2005

Castle Combe attacked by local council

F3 and GT meetings are threatened

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Popular track day circuit Castle Combe has had a noise nuisance order served on it by the local council which threatens the GT and F3 events held there. The directors of the venue consider this unfair -- quite naturally -- and are appealing against it.

They are however hoping to influence the council to withdraw the order rather than to go through formal processes, which will cost money that could be better spent elsewhere. The circuit directors said that they have reduced the noise that GT and F3 cars are allowed to generate, down by 4dB; a reduction of 3dB halves the sound volume, so 4dB is a significant reduction.

While the order covers all race days, the principal clause will prevent the circuit running the British Formula 3 and GT Championships after 2005. As the directors point out, during four successful years these two races have:

• Run on average for 5 hours 22 minutes per year, just 4.36per cent of the total racing time
• Attracted almost 100,000 visitors
• Generated approximately £10m into the North Wiltshire economy (using the council’s own calculations)
• Provided Wiltshire with a world class sporting event

The directors argue that:

• The circuit has existed since 1950 and has run racing continuously through that time. It is well known and well sign-posted. Anyone moving into the area since 1950, would have been aware of its existence
• It has the lowest usage of any circuit in the UK currently attracting national racing classes
• Long term effects of losing these races could force the circuit to look for other revenue streams and to restrict its support for some loss-making and charitable events
• They have demonstrated to the council that, with careful noise controls and an undertaking to work with the organisers of these championships to investigate further noise reductions, they can work in harmony with most local environment and residents

The circuit's directors are asking interested people to write to the councillors urging councillors to vote to instruct their officers to withdraw the notice, and have published their contact details.

It looks even better if you both object to the order and live in the area...

More: www.racecar.co.uk/cc/story.asp?ArticleID=87

[Don]

THIS IS AWFUL!

I am a regular visitor to Castle Combe for trackdays and racedays and I haven't missed its F3/GT meeting in years.

Frerkring Council! How can they possibly object to a bit of noise one or two weekends in the year that's over by 6:00pm, doesn't start until after 9:00am - and is a TRADITION going back FIFTY YEARS!

I am incensed!

[Don]

The linked article provides email addresses of councillors - but I would like to write on headed notepad as I know how technophibic these people are.

If anyone from Castle Combe is reading - could you let me know who the most effective individual to write to is? I presume the Council Leader?

[miniman]

Outrageous. I'm a marshall at Combe and have done a number of trackdays there and can tell you that they are red hot on noise levels, and also on the 6pm curfew that is in force on race days. If the day's events are overrunning, the last one gets canned.

This is a typical NIMBY bullshit attitude. The track has been there for years so if you don't want to live near a race track, don't frikkin move there!

[Plotloss]

The ban on hunting was the thin end of the wedge.

I absolutely guarantee you now that there will be a plague of this small mindedness that envelopes this once great nation.

[turbosei]

This is crazy.

As the article says only those that have lived in the area for more than 50years have any right to complain and then only if the noise had increased.

This smacks of the same sort of people who move near Heathrow and then complain about aircraft noise.

[Don]

miniman said:

This is a typical NIMBY bullshit attitude. The track has been there for years so if you don't want to live near a race track, don't frikkin move there!

Damn straight!

But who does one write to stating that it is because of Castle Combe race track that I visit the area, stay in hotels, eat in restaurants, drink in pubs, take the wife shopping in the cutsie-north-Wilts villages...

And this must be true of a HUGE number of race and track enthusiasts...

[Don]

Plotloss said:

The ban on hunting was the thin end of the wedge. I absolutely guarantee you now that there will be a plague of this small mindedness that envelopes this once great nation.

I'm afraid so. Well I objected to the hunting ban.

But this? This has riled me beyond that. These NIMBYs are now not just attacking people I sympathise with. But ME directly. My quality of life.

If I can support Castle Combe in any way I WILL!

[miniman]

Don said:

But who does one write to stating that it is because of Castle Combe race track that I visit the area, stay in hotels, eat in restaurants, drink in pubs, take the wife shopping in the cutsie-north-Wilts villages...

There's 50 councillors on the list. 50 x 21p = £10.50 so I may well write to all of them.

[srebbe64]

Council - bunch of complete idiots. One of my kids goes karting the noise from the (big) circuit is negligible, even on race days. However, if people start to use the circuit less it will definitely affect trade in the area and it could be a major "own goal" by the council.

[RobC]

Bloody typical of people that move out of the bloody city and suddenly realise that the countryside isn't as quite as they have seen on "all creatures great and small" this gets right on my goat. If you don't like the noise of engines don't move next to a bloody race track....like Don said people that move near Heathrow and complain about the plane....twonks!

The Castle Combe round of the F3/GT is also the busiest round by far as well so maybe the organisers should get behind Combe directors as well.

Castle Combe is my second home, I to will do anything to help them!!

[Mad Dave]

miniman said:

Outrageous. I'm a marshall at Combe and have done a number of trackdays there and can tell you that they are red hot on noise levels, and also on the 6pm curfew that is in force on race days. If the day's events are overrunning, the last one gets canned. This is a typical NIMBY bullshit attitude. The track has been there for years so if you don't want to live near a race track, don't frikkin move there!

I agree with this completely - they are very careful about noise levels and as stated, have been there for years. It's similar to people who buy a house thats a few quid cheaper due to being in an airports flight path, and then complain about the noise!!

[RobC]

srebbe64 said:

it could be a major "own goal" by the council.

Probably the same council that made Dynson move out of Malmesbury....they'll be regretting that one for a long time....short sighted the lot of them

[miniman]

I will be driving through Combe later today... sorely, sorely tempting to lean on the horn the whole way through but wouldn't want to hurt the campaign by proving the point that "car enthusiasts" are noisy feckers...

[miniman]

srebbe64 said:

One of my kids goes karting the noise from the (big) circuit is negligible, even on race days.

Not strictly true... when the big stuff is running you can hear it on the other side of Chippenham quite clerly

[munter]

5 hours 22 mins a year. Over 10mil pumped into the local economy.... Those 5 hours 22 mins are well publisised so "locals" offended by the noise can have a day trip to london/turn down the hearing aid for those 5 hours 22 mins.

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!

[miniman]

munter 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...

[IPAddis]

Can someone please work out which of the councillors is nearest to Castle Combe? I'm sure the ones that serve the other side of Wiltshire aren't going to be interested.

Ian A.

[cotty]

I think that once a track gets to an age that is longer than human life expectancy then anyone complaining should be politely and firmly told to sod off.

Few years still to go for Castle Combe

[miniman]

IPAddis said:

Can someone please work out which of the councillors is nearest to Castle Combe? I'm sure the ones that serve the other side of Wiltshire aren't going to be interested. Ian A.

OK, these are closest:

Cepen Park
Anything including "Chippenham"
Colerne
Corsham
Nettleton
Marshfield

You should be able to see a lot of them here:

Multimap Link
Let me know if you need more info - I live 5 minutes from the circuit.

>> Edited by miniman on Wednesday 23 February 13:11

[jacobyte]

IPAddis said:

Can someone please work out which of the councillors is nearest to Castle Combe? I'm sure the ones that serve the other side of Wiltshire aren't going to be interested. Ian A.

I wrote a letter last night to every single one of them.