Lydden 28th December

[Rod Birley]

There is actually two points which are becoming apparent. The first is that planning permission is still being negotiated, it has been agreed in principle but the second point is that extra conditions (or section 106 in council speak)have been attached. Sadly not everyone in the area likes motor sport/Lydden, but the council are aware of the people who have spoken up in favour of racing continuing and they are trying to form a balance. My concern now is that no other hidden conditions appear before the new season gets underway,I think there are enough restrictions to satisfy the "locals".The danger is that other areas will use this to influence their local council to restrict a nearby circuit somewhere else in this country.

[Hog]

Has anything happened re the proposed slacking of the noise restrictions? I read somewhere (Autosport?) that it was being proposed that instead of only allowing racing on a Sunday to start at 12.30 it was going to be moved forward to 10.30.

[Stephen H]

Early this year I attended a grass track meeting on a Sunday at Swingfield, only a few miles from Lydden. Okay its not a permanent venue, and only holds a one or two events a year, but the meeting started on Sunday morning (10.30 or 11.00 I think), and was not subjected to 12.30pm start time that Lydden is.

I don`t know whether the Coombe Valley Raceway, a dirt banger oval in Dover, is also subjected to the same restrictions as Lydden, by Dover District Council?

[Rod Birley]

In Bill Chesson's day the 12.30 start was a voluntary consideration, He was not a great lover of long practice sessions. His philosophy was that people paid to come and watch racing...nothing wrong with that. He made money (particularly at stockcar and rallycross meetings)by crowd attendance. When Tom Bissett took over, planning restrictions crept in as Tom had grander plans for the venue,does anyone remember the detailed model which was mysteriously "burnt".Since then numerous proposals have been put before the council and the anti brigade have learnt how to get things on the statute book, hence the current restrictions.

[Stephen H]

Originally posted by Hog
Has anything happened re the proposed slacking of the noise restrictions? I read somewhere (Autosport?) that it was being proposed that instead of only allowing racing on a Sunday to start at 12.30 it was going to be moved forward to 10.30.

All I could find from the Dover District Council Web site was this policy from their local plan.

"Policy AS13
Proposals to expand the use of Lydden Circuit for motor sports or intensify its frequency will be refused. Only development ancillary to its existing use will be permitted."

[QuickBrownFox]

Nice to see that the council left plenty of room for compromise. Not.

What is the tracks current frequency?

[Hog]

So if "proposals to expand the use of Lydden Circuit for motor sports or intensify its frequency will be refused" is the case - where does this leave McLaren with it's plans for the venue? What does "development ancilliary to it's existing use" mean - surely these two statements contradict eachother? On one hand DDC will not allow Lydden circuit to be expanded or used more often, but on the other hand expansion of the venue will be allowed? I'm mucking fuddled.

As to the tracks current frequency - I thought there was something on pretty much every weekend - either 2,3 or 4 wheels. In addition to thet there are test days, plus I believe a local cycle club use the venue during summer evenings.

[Stephen H]

This is the whole section from the local plan, which relates to policy AS13.

"LYDDEN CIRCUIT

15.68 The Circuit is a long established venue for motor sports and adds to the visitor attractions in the Dover area. It is located just south of the A2, accessed from an unclassified country lane, which leads from the A2 to Wootton, and lies within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and a Special Landscape Area (SLA). The majority of the site lies within a Groundwater Source Protection Zone 2, whilst a small part lies in a Zone 1.

15.69 For many years the site operated on the basis of a series of temporary permissions. In 1986, permanent permission was granted, subject to conditions restricting frequency and type of use, and safeguarding amenity. The major constraints on the use of the Circuit stem from disturbance to local residents, particularly those at Wootton, Shepherdswell and Coldred, its location in a very sensitive landscape and poor access.

15.70 The opportunity arose in the early 1990's for the Council to secure both environmental improvements and significant employment benefits through a proposal to redevelop the Circuit, for which outline planning permission was granted in 1991 and extended in 1994. The permission was for a test track for Formula One cars and road silenced sports cars, a circuit for a limited amount of racing and the erection of a 23,234 sq. m. (250,000 sq. ft.) factory for research, development and production of Formula One racing cars and a new %on the road& up-market sports car. Development has now started on the implementation of this planning permission.

15.71 Since permission was given for the circuit's redevelopment, the Government has re-iterated its view, in revising PPG7, that policies and decisions affecting AONB should favour the conservation of the natural beauty of the landscape and it would normally be inconsistent with the aims of designation to permit major commercial development in theses areas. Additionally, permission has recently been given by the Secretary of State for the relocation of the research, development and production facilities in Surrey. Other sites within Dover have become available for business use since the permission for Lydden Circuit was first granted. Given these changed circumstances, any future proposals for development at or the redevelopment of, Lydden Circuit, should be assessed against policies of the development plan, and, in particular be assessed against policies (including national policies) for the AONB.

Policy AS13

Proposals to expand the use of Lydden Circuit for motor sports or intensify its frequency will be refused. Only development ancillary to its existing use will be permitted.

Environmental Appraisal

The policy works towards the Objective of protecting the countryside from development. No Objectives are adversely affected."

[scottball75]

Originally posted by Stephen H
Government has re-iterated its view, *snip* that policies and decisions affecting AONB should favour the conservation of the natural beauty of the landscape

I may be getting the wrong end of the stick here, but...

Lydden is set in a natural bowl, and is not visable from the main road or any local houses. Surely any plans to develop the circuit would stay within the current boundarys - so how would the natural beauty of the landscape be affected?

[Rod Birley]

Yet again a lot of hard work but an "established" date in February looks like going ahead for the cancelled Dec.28th events.