Lyneham trackdays stopped?

[PhilD]

Thanks for bringing this to my attention

Petition signed and also message sent through http://www.jamesgray.org/

Considering Hullavington closed a few years ago and now Lyneham is closed it puts more pressure on Castle Combe. Also many people may like airfield days but would not do a day at Castle Combe because of the lack of run-off areas.

A a local resident I would hope that my voice counts.

[Munter]

Anybody want to write up a piece for the local press. They always need free stories.

"MP takes measures to encourage dangerous street racing" etc etc

[chickensoup]

I think there would be more chance if they run with a (military) charity element, show benefit to site and community

[Smitters]

HorneyMX5 said:

Nice one Matt for running the article.

Seconded.

[stuart-b]

I wonder if those moaning would prefer 2-step and anti-lag outside their house, or on the track?

Maybe we should go and drive around and find out

[CanoeSniffer]

Matt Bird said:

Hi all,

Just to say the homepage story on this is being written now; apologies for the delay, Geneva has rather dominated the past few days... Thanks to Fishy_Dave for bringing it to our attention!

All the best,


Matt

[anonymous-user]

Signed.

If there are local concerns that carry so much weight, then let's take an evidence-based approach and if the result is that changes are necessary it should be possible to put measures in place to mitigate the impact rather than just close everything down.

[Mike-tf3n0]

Just seen this, have signed and written to Mr G. I went to school on Wiltshire, have flown out of Lyneham and am a one time competitor so this is of interest to me. I recall in the 90s there was a solicitor who bought a house near to Goodwood and put a lot of time and money into trying to get it completely closed down. Thankfully he failed and it survived to now host one of the most prestigious motorsport events on the planet which also just happens to bring a lot of money into the area to the benefit of all those who live there. Perhaps Lyneham could contribute in the same way to the wellbeing of those around it if they could see beyond the end of their noses! How intolerant the country has become.

[irocfan]

the amount of fktards who buy house near:

airports
motor-sports venues
sports stadia
farms

and then complain about the associated noise staggers me.

[BlueRSedFly]

Maybe we should just start a petition for the RAF to reopen Lyneham and base it's Typhoons there

[JerryF]

I have no specific opinion on Lyneham, only flew in their once.

However, why would a petition work, it's a military airfield and they can do as they please?

[ukaskew]

PhilD said:

Considering Hullavington closed a few years ago and now Lyneham is closed it puts more pressure on Castle Combe. Also many people may like airfield days but would not do a day at Castle Combe because of the lack of run-off areas.

And they lost Keevil (although it's now a very active military airfield again so fair enough) so the options around here really have now been seriously squeezed.

[Fishy Dave]

JerryF said:

I have no specific opinion on Lyneham, only flew in their once.

However, why would a petition work, it's a military airfield and they can do as they please?

You are right, the military can do as they please to a certain extent (although tax payers and the local community must have a voice?). On this occasion it appears to be that James Gray MP listened to a few locals, talked to the base commander and then made a public announcement positioning himself as a saviour of the local people against those nasty cars. I'm pretty sure he doesn't realise that those drivers of said cars are mostly locals too. The MP campaigned to keep Lyneham open in the past so presumably has an influence/understanding with the base?

[court]

How much were the Lyneham track days out of interest? I see the Abingdon events are only £135 - looks great value. Castle Combe is a bit intimidating for a novice like me. Lyneham would have been perfect!

[Smitters]

stuart-b said:

I wonder if those moaning would prefer 2-step and anti-lag outside their house, or on the track?

Maybe we should go and drive around and find out

That's essentially the point I made in my email to the MP - the track is the perfect place for people to enjoy their car safely and away from 99% of the public. As evidenced by the local police towing two cars locally last night due to repeated anti-social driving and multiple complaints, the place for driving fast really isn't the roads. Sadly, there's often a lack of communication and some short-sightedness. I imagine the complainers think the track is full of barry-spec Corsas and might be surprised to see Porsches, Lotuses, Caterhams, and some classics too.

[hoegaardenruls]

irocfan said:

the amount of fktards who buy house near:

airports
motor-sports venues
sports stadia
farms

and then complain about the associated noise staggers me.

I'd also include music venues in that last, but thankfully there seems to be some hope in that respect.

Sadly, selfish and unreasonable nimbyism seems to have taken hold in this country, and only a few people have to raise something as a disgraceful issue for it to take hold - a prime example here

http://savebatterseapark.com/issues-at-a-glance/

Opinions of Formula-E aside, this campaign was hostile to anyone not sharing their opinion, and completely disregarded the fact there is another significant green space within a mile. No lasting damage was done to the park, and it remained accessible on all but race days.

Anyway, back to Lyneham - I've signed, as banning this in the first instance seems ridiculous considering it is a working airfield.

[stuart-b]

Smitters said:

That's essentially the point I made in my email to the MP - the track is the perfect place for people to enjoy their car safely and away from 99% of the public. As evidenced by the local police towing two cars locally last night due to repeated anti-social driving and multiple complaints, the place for driving fast really isn't the roads. Sadly, there's often a lack of communication and some short-sightedness. I imagine the complainers think the track is full of barry-spec Corsas and might be surprised to see Porsches, Lotuses, Caterhams, and some classics too.

But who cares if it's barry-spec Corsa's? The guys will be having fun legally. I don't think the rules are there for the enjoyment of the local populace to come and gork at "rare metal according to their particular taste" floating around a track.

Tossers (not you obviously, the yokals)

[sideways man]

Signed,
The amount of budget track days seems to have reduced hugely in recent years, you'd have thought what with speed cameras etc, they'd be really popular?

[Talksteer]

JerryF said:

I have no specific opinion on Lyneham, only flew in their once.

However, why would a petition work, it's a military airfield and they can do as they please?

The big issue with this is that an MP has applied pressure to a servicemen to take a decision which affects members of the public.

This decision was taken without process and without any objective assessment.

Were this a private operator the MP would have negligible power to do anything and councils would have to follow due process.

This was able to happen because effectively there is a loophole in the process because it takes place on MoD land.

What will the petition achieve?

1: If enough people sign it will get negative press for the MP and for the MoD.
2: It this makes them look unpopular the MoD may be encouraged to reconsider the decision and more broadly explore how it makes decisions that affect the public.

There is legislative support for this sort of thing, currently a bill is in parliament incorporating the principal of agent of change into UK planning law.

This basically stops people moving next to a noise producer and then complaining.

It might be worth getting John Spellar MP the bill's drafter involved.

[Smitters]

stuart-b said:

Smitters said:

That's essentially the point I made in my email to the MP - the track is the perfect place for people to enjoy their car safely and away from 99% of the public. As evidenced by the local police towing two cars locally last night due to repeated anti-social driving and multiple complaints, the place for driving fast really isn't the roads. Sadly, there's often a lack of communication and some short-sightedness. I imagine the complainers think the track is full of barry-spec Corsas and might be surprised to see Porsches, Lotuses, Caterhams, and some classics too.

But who cares if it's barry-spec Corsa's? The guys will be having fun legally. I don't think the rules are there for the enjoyment of the local populace to come and gork at "rare metal according to their particular taste" floating around a track.

Tossers (not you obviously, the yokals)

Agree, but it's a perception thing isn't it. They probably think it attracts morons who drive flat out to the airfield, flat out all day, then flat out home. It simply doesn't compute that someone might make a weekend of it or bring the family, as I've done when going out to Pembrey, bringing money into the local economy.