Move to stop driving centre

More than 100 villagers are expected to turn out for a massive demonstration against a multi-million pound driving centre on an airfield near Stafford.

The protesters, who fear noise and traffic problems if the scheme goes ahead, will lobby the entrance to the Driveme.net site at Seighford Airfield on Saturday morning.

Protest organiser Anthony Bennett, who lives in Ranton, says they want a show of strength to bring home to the powers that be just how solid the opposition is.

"I am expecting at least 100 people to stand with us at the entrance to the Driveme.net site," he said.

"More than 300 letters of objection have already been sent to the council and in addition to Saturday's demonstration we will be lobbying the meeting which will consider the application on June 4.

"I have three children, one at school and the other two starting soon and we don't want fast cars travelling the roads around the villages," said Mr Bennett, a 36-year-old salesman in the steel industry.

He said some of the roads which children use to get to school are narrow and have no pavement.

Flintshire-based Driveme has been coaching drivers in performance cars such as the Audi R8, Subaru Impreza and Mitsubishi Evo at the airfield.

The company has now applied for permission to create a £12 million performance car driving experience centre there, saying it will bring jobs and investment to the area without impacting on the environment or nearby roads.

Mr Bennett added that Driveme has already had three planning applications refused, including all the buildings presently on the site.

They have also had a lawful development change of use application refused.

"We also object to the massive traffic flows this will generate. This is a huge site and will increase traffic through all the local surrounding villages," said Mr Bennett.

"You just cannot bulldoze over countryside that has protected species like badgers, barn owls, buzzards, bats and a significant, internationally important population of great crested newts.

"There are also significant nesting birds such as skylark and lapwing, grey partridge and reed bunting. For comparing purposes Doxey Marshes nature reserve has eight pairs of skylark and eight pairs of Lapwing in 121 hectares. This site in 40 hectares has eight skylark nesting pairs and five lapwing."

Mr Bennett added: "We need Stafford Borough Council to kick this application, and Driveme, into touch and issue a stop notice on Driveme and not let them continue this site."