A public meeting that was due to be held, 6 March, in Kirkby Mallory village, involving representatives of the Mallory Park racing circuit (MPML) and the Borough Council has been cancelled.
The meeting, called by the village Liaison Committee, had been convened to enable MPML to put forward its plans to reduce the increasing noise nuisance experienced by a number of residents in the village, some of whom live close to the track. This nuisance, which is currently subject to enforcement action by the council against a statutory Notice issued in 1985, has been the subject of complaints and discussions between residents, MPML and the council since September 2011.
No date has been set as yet for any rearranged meeting.
The Borough Council has received complaints about noise and other issues relating to Mallory Park Racing Circuit, particularly over the last 18 months. A large number of the residents who have complained to the council have lived in the village for many years.
In September 2011, MPML agreed to re-establish the Mallory Park Liaison Committee to improve communications between the circuit and the residents and reach a local agreement on the noise issues amicably. It was also proposed to try and identify new operating controls to replace the Noise Notice issued in 1985.
Steve Atkinson, the Council's Chief Executive, said:
"This is a more complex issue than many would have us believe. Those who live in the village are well aware of the difficult balance we are trying to strike - the need to control the level and frequency of noise and noisy events, which has increased in the last couple of years, without putting out of business a circuit which has operated for over 50 years and has a high profile nationally and beyond. Many local businesses depend on its continuation.
But, and this is the big issue, it must operate within tolerable noise limits. Discussions between MPML and the council went on for most of yesterday, but we were unable to reach an operating plan which the council could endorse for further discussion with the residents of the village. For that reason, and because there was a concern that there would be an influx of people from outside the village who wanted to protest (I am told peacefully), the Liaison Committee decided to cancel the meeting. I support that decision as being the right one for the right reasons, especially as feelings are clearly running high for all participants at the moment"
He added: "I need to clarify a few things, as there are a number of misconceptions flying around.
1.A large number of those village residents who have complained/raised concerns have lived in the village for many years. It is not a case of a small number of 'newbies' making a fuss! The complaints have been made legitimately in relation to an existing Statutory Notice 2.The council has been attempting to secure an agreed way forward with MPML for well over a year, the last eight months with my direct involvement, and has been unable to do so. Such an agreement, incorporated into a new Notice, should prevent the need for legal action, which costs money and time and has no certainty of securing an outcome satisfactory to all. Having said that, we had no option to begin enforcement action in August last year and this is progressing through the courts now. I do accept that this has been too long a process and that the enforcement should have begun sooner. However, my belief is that we would still have been in this potential position of deadlock at some point; although it would have been some six months earlier. 3.Whilst I have been inundated with e-mails from people supporting the continued operation of the track (and can sympathise with their view), I must give some priority to the views of those people who live in the village, who are directly affected on a daily basis 4.The council does not intend any of its actions to result in the closure of Mallory Park; that will be a commercial decision for MPML, but we do expect that they work towards the noise control legitimately requested by local residents, none of whom would want the circuit to close 5.The council has no confirmed knowledge of any sale of the site for housing or other purpose 6.Neither the council nor MPML condone any threats of or actual intimidation, about which we have been made aware in recent days. Such activities are few in number, but of concern to the individuals involved , wholly unwarranted and against people who hold genuine views, which must be given proper airing and consideration"
Unless an agreement can be secured and then incorporated into a new Notice, the council will continue its enforcement of the provisions of the 1985 Notice for breaches witnessed after 1 August 2012. The council has served summonses on Mallory Park (Motorsport) Limited and the matter will proceed to trial for the current sample of five alleged breaches.
It remains the council's intention to resolve the issue through local agreement, rather than through formal action (with all the further delays inherent in such a process), but this position has yet to be reached, leaving the legal process as the only means of progress at this point, if the council is to properly respond to concerns raised with its officers by local residents.
The council remains in discussion with MPML and will continue to seek a reasonable agreement for the wider benefit and will consult on this before deciding if a new Notice is to be served.
