Motocross near Crick track gets planning approval

The application – recommended for approval by officers – was for a track near Crick, immediately to the east of the M1.

The track wanted to increase the number of days it can hold events from those allowed under general planning rules which require no approval.

Daventry District Council’s planning committee had previously discussed the application, but deferred making a decision after those concerned about noise requested a site visit and that evidence produced by the applicant be reviewed by an independent consultant.

That consultant said the noise report in the application, which showed minimal impacts on neighbouring villages, was accurate given the conditions in which the noise measurements were taken.

The site visit was cancelled after too few members signed up to go along.

Several members who were minded to approve the application first time around had already said they felt no need to attend. Some others made their own arrangements to walk around the villages and countryside when an event was taking place.

Cllr Alan Chantler said he had heard loud noise from the site at one point in particular in Yelvertoft. While Cllr Ken Ritchie said that during a two hour walk around the various nearby villages that he found it: “Very difficult to hear any motorcycle noise above the general hum of the traffic on the M1 and other roads.”

The neighbouring parish councils had all objected based on noise and other issues, like traffic.

Most councillors took the view that evidence before them said there should be no statutory nuisance from noise from the track. But several pointed out that noise is subjective, and its level can depend on various conditions including air density and wind direction.

Cllr Cathertine Lomax said she still had concerns over the application, but could see no planning reason to refuse it.

Conditions on the application include limits on the number of days a week it can operate, and restrictions
 on the hours of day bikes can run.

Environmental health officers at the meeting also said if they received complaints about noise from such a source, they would endeavour to have an officer on site that same day to record noise levels, given the conditions can change and the event will only last for a certain time.

The application was approved following a vote.