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Mallory Park embroiled in noise row

British circuit Mallory Park is embroiled in a battle with its local community over excessive noise at the Leicestershire circuit

Some residents have demanded the local council enforces restrictions on the number of days Mallory can operate.

The circuit has breached a planning agreement that dates back to 1985, and residents have complained about Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council failing to enforce that arrangement.

Circuit leaseholder, the BARC, says the pre-existing agreement will make Mallory Park commercially unviable if enforced.

This has prompted fears the circuit may have to close if the terms cannot be re-negotiated.

A locally generated 'Save Mallory' campaign on social networking site Twitter has attracted over 4000 followers.

An e-petition to the Government Department for Culture, Media and Sport to 'Save Mallory Park Circuit' has attracted over 12,000 signatures.

Mark Jones, new chief executive of the BARC, told AUTOSPORT the club was working with the local council to find a way forward with residents.

"The 1985 agreement is too restrictive," he said. "There have been a number of noise issues with local residents but we've come up with a compromise that we think will allow us to move forward.

"It's been great to see such support for the circuit. That's what we want.

"There's been lots of rumours and counter rumours but we're not anywhere near that point [where the circuit may be under threat].

"We have a workable business model, subject to agreement, and I think we'll be fine."

Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council says it is committed to finding a solution that will not involve legal action.

Chief executive Steve Atkinson said: "This is a complex issue. We are trying to strike a difficult balance between the need to control the level and frequency of noise, which has increased in the last couple of years, without putting out of business a circuit that has operated for over 50 years."

Talks between the circuit, council and local residents have been ongoing since 2011.

The council began enforcing pre-existing noise limits last year and has taken action against the circuit for five alleged breaches since last August.

The BARC hopes to present its new plan for Mallory within the next couple of weeks.

"The council has been trying to secure an agreed way forward with Mallory Park for well over a year, the last eight months with my direct involvement, and has been unable to do so," Atkinson added.

"Such an agreement should prevent the need for legal action, which costs money and time and has no certainty of securing an outcome satisfactory to all.

"The council does not intend any of its actions to result in the closure of Mallory Park; that will be a commercial decision for the circuit.

"But we do expect them to work towards the noise control legitimately requested by local residents, none of whom would want the circuit to close."

AUTOSPORT SAYS
Ben Anderson, national editor (@benandersonauto)

Noise has become the most pervasive issue facing British motorsport in the modern era.

North Yorkshire venue Croft was nearly brought to its knees following legal proceedings in 2008-09, which forced it to operate within highly proscriptive limits.

Then Donington Park went through a protracted period of renegotiation with its local council, after closing during 2009-10 to rebuild the circuit following Simon Gillet's failed attempt to bring the British Grand Prix there.

Fortunately, both circuits have adapted and survived to tell the tale.

Across Leicestershire, now Mallory Park is facing its own battle with a disgruntled local community over noise.

This problem goes back to the 1980s, when single-seater racer Chris Meek bought the circuit and saved it from closure.

The number of days Mallory could operate for was set down in a 1985 planning agreement. But circuit activity expanded in the ensuing decades, to the point at which it substantially outgrew these limitations.

The local council appears to have turned a blind eye to this and has recently faced heat from local residents to clean up Mallory's act.

The council has thus reverted to the 1985 planning agreement, which Mallory says will make the circuit unviable if enforced to the letter.

Circuit operator the BARC is confident it won't come to this and that it can broker a new deal acceptable to all parties.

Let's hope BARC chief executive Mark Jones is right, because it would be a real shame if Mallory succumbed and noise meant the end for 'The Friendly Circuit'.

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