Villagers' dismay after South Staffordshire go-kart plans unveiled
Proposals to create a go-kart track on green belt land in South Staffordshire have been unveiled – leading to complaints about the amount of planning applications being submitted in the village.
Fishley Park has submitted plans to transform its golf driving range into a go-kart track.
The park would also be refurbished with a bar and function room under the proposals, which include the creation of new entrance porches and a waiting area. Fishley Park, which is based in Pelsall near its border with Essington, also puts on wedding receptions.
Essington ward councillor David Clifft said that after recent proposals for a crematorium and gipsy site in the village's green belt, residents were getting 'fed up'.
Councillor Clifft said: "Essington is constantly under threat from unwanted developments, which puts our green belt under pressure.
"With the other applications we've got in Essington I can see our borders being eroded away. Residents are getting fed up with the amount of applications being put in.
"It'd be nice if we had something like a leisure centre for a change – something that we need."
It was recently announced that the public would be given more time to have its say on plans for the village's new crematorium.
Under plans the Broad Lane land would be leased by South Staffordshire Council and Staffordshire Council to the Westerleigh Group with a view to building a crematorium. The plans are designed to reduce waiting times for crematoria services.
Residents have also opposed plans for a gipsy caravan site in a back garden in Long Lane. Councillor Clifft said the noise from any potential go-kart track could be a problem.
"There's a cattery boarding home just a few hundred yards away so noise is an issue," he said.
"I imagine farms won't be happy about it as the area is surrounded by farmland and you've got a fair few animals grazing in that area." A decision on the go-kart application will be made in October.
