A FARMER is trying to get permission to turn grazing land off Coventry Road in Lutterworth into a motocross racing track.
Chris Marshall (46), who lives in Countesthorpe, has already laid down a track on the land, near Glebe Farm, and says it could draw motorcyclists and quad bike riders from all over the area.
However, district and town councillors for the area say they are concerned that the track could create noise and pollution.
Mr Marshall said: "There aren't any facilities like this anywhere in the Lutterworth area – the nearest are in Harborough and Weedon in Northamptonshire.
"This means people interested in the sport end up using green fields and places which they're not supposed to use and which aren't safe.
"I want to create somewhere that is safe and out of the way and where it won't affect anyone else."
Mr Marshall said the track is in a dip and that environmental health officers had already visited the site to carry out a noise survey.
He added: "The track will be used about 40 times a year at the weekends.
"There is already permission to use the site about 12 times a year as a motocross track.
"It is used as grazing land now and it will continue to be used for that during the week."
Motocross is a form of motorcycle or all-terrain vehicle racing held on enclosed off-road circuits. It is sometimes known as scrambling.
Mr Marshall said the application was likely to be considered by Harborough District Council's planning committee before June, and if he gets planning permission he is hoping to have the track up and running within four weeks.
Town and district councillor Geraldine Robinson said she was worried that the noise from the site may carry to homes on the outskirts of Lutterworth in Cunningham Drive. She added: "It would also increase traffic in Coventry Road leading into the site. "It is a greenfield site at the moment, and if this track is allowed, and there is development, it would become brownfield and there could be even more development there in future."
Mrs Robinson said no residents had yet approached her with concerns about noise or pollution from the site.
County councillor Rosita Page said: "I do not know how much noise and traffic it will create but I hope whatever happens it does not have a negative impact on people who live nearby. I would support objections to the proposals if it was demonstrated that it would adversely affect the amenity of people living in that area."
April 28, 2006
Article Reference: http://www.harboroughtoday.co.uk/Vie...icleID=1468372
Chris Marshall (46), who lives in Countesthorpe, has already laid down a track on the land, near Glebe Farm, and says it could draw motorcyclists and quad bike riders from all over the area.
However, district and town councillors for the area say they are concerned that the track could create noise and pollution.
Mr Marshall said: "There aren't any facilities like this anywhere in the Lutterworth area – the nearest are in Harborough and Weedon in Northamptonshire.
"This means people interested in the sport end up using green fields and places which they're not supposed to use and which aren't safe.
"I want to create somewhere that is safe and out of the way and where it won't affect anyone else."
Mr Marshall said the track is in a dip and that environmental health officers had already visited the site to carry out a noise survey.
He added: "The track will be used about 40 times a year at the weekends.
"There is already permission to use the site about 12 times a year as a motocross track.
"It is used as grazing land now and it will continue to be used for that during the week."
Motocross is a form of motorcycle or all-terrain vehicle racing held on enclosed off-road circuits. It is sometimes known as scrambling.
Mr Marshall said the application was likely to be considered by Harborough District Council's planning committee before June, and if he gets planning permission he is hoping to have the track up and running within four weeks.
Town and district councillor Geraldine Robinson said she was worried that the noise from the site may carry to homes on the outskirts of Lutterworth in Cunningham Drive. She added: "It would also increase traffic in Coventry Road leading into the site. "It is a greenfield site at the moment, and if this track is allowed, and there is development, it would become brownfield and there could be even more development there in future."
Mrs Robinson said no residents had yet approached her with concerns about noise or pollution from the site.
County councillor Rosita Page said: "I do not know how much noise and traffic it will create but I hope whatever happens it does not have a negative impact on people who live nearby. I would support objections to the proposals if it was demonstrated that it would adversely affect the amenity of people living in that area."
April 28, 2006
Article Reference: http://www.harboroughtoday.co.uk/Vie...icleID=1468372
