Karting centre to lose relocation fight
A go-karting centre looks likely to lose its fight to move to a countryside site in Staffordshire because of predicted 'unacceptable' levels of noise.
Planning officers have recommended refusal of the scheme, also citing their concerns over the removal of sections of ecologically important hedgerow at the site, near Cannock, used for nesting by skylarks and meadow pipits.
Bosses of Chasewater Kart Racing Club want to build an outdoor racing circuit with a race control building, storage facility, office and a 400-space car park opposite The Hollybush Garden Centre in Shareshill.
They hope to be open seven days week – with 22 race weekends also planned on the 28-acre site, the equivalent in size to 18 football pitches.
The semi-rural green belt location is just over half a mile from Shareshill village and three-quarters of a mile from Cheslyn Hay.
Gavin Williamson, MP for South Staffordshire, wrote to planners on residents' behalf and voiced his own concerns about the impact of increased traffic on local roads, already prone to congestion from the number of weekend car boot sales in the area. He also raised the matter of encroaching on the green belt.
"I accept that this is a leisure activity and exception can be made but I think the nature of the operation, and also the large amount of car parking, ancilliary buildings and the tracks to be laid down would potentially have an impact, and such incursion could not be justified."
Councillor Robert Cope, who represents Shareshill and Featherstone on South Staffordshire District Council, described the noise that would be generated as 'unneighbourly'.
Staffordshire Police have also objected to the application, saying their experience of events in the area often result in long delays along the A460 Eastern Way and on the M6 exit slip roads at junction 11, Cannock. The A462 Warstone Raod was also affected.
Planners felt that the noise from karting could be offset to a degree by the background noise from traffic on the M6. However they were concerned that the scheme did not include plans to connect to a public sewer.
The club ran a racing circuit at Chasewater Country Park near Brownhills for more than 40 years but stopped racing there 13 years ago after part of the circuit was compulsory purchased as part of the M6 Toll scheme. The club, as a not-for-profit organisation, has since then been looking for a new home.
Council bosses at South Staffordshire are due to make a decision on the scheme in Tuesday(16th).
