Plan for new Top Gear track at Enstone rejected

Originally Posted by banburyguardian.co.uk Top Gear forced off the runway PLANS for filming TV motoring show Top Gear at an airfield have hit reverse after planning permission was refused because of noise concerns. Residents from villages near Enstone airfield who protested against the proposals were overjoyed with West Oxfordshire District Council's decision at its Uplands Planning Committee meeting last Monday. Between 50 and 60 residents attended. Patrick Marnham is a member of Enstone and District Environmental Concern (EADEC), set up by villagers to lobby against the application. He said they were very pleased with the decision and hoped the applicants would not appeal. "It's been a long hard-fought battle," he said. "The prospect of the airfield being used for high speed motor sports was appalling for the surrounding villages." "Let's hope the council will now produce an all encompassing plan for the site so we'll know where we stand in the future." A company called the Advanced Driving Academy Ltd (ADA) applied in June to operate from Enstone airfield and requested to film outdoor and construct a circuit for driver training and vehicle testing. It already had permission to build a 10,000sq ft structure for indoor filming. The popular BBC2 show Top Gear, presented by Jeremy Clarkson, is notorious for its high-powered car track tests and races and there was an outcry from villagers fearing roaring car engines and squealing tyres. From ADA's first application, through its resubmission with concessions last month up to this final decision, West Oxfordshire District Council received about 150 letters of objection from people in several surrounding villages and EADEC was formed. Mr Marnham said: "The planned activity would have created a really piercing noise audible from up to three miles away. "It would have spoiled the countryside atmosphere and the potential benefits were far outweighed by the environmental damage." The council agreed, refusing the application on the grounds the likely noise created by the proposed activities would affect nearby residents and the ambience of the countryside. The motion was passed six to five, and the officer in charge of the application, Jeff Lowe, said he expected an appeal. ADA was unavailable to comment and a notice on its website states it is closed for business until further notice. 19 September 2005

Not exactly news, but I recently cancelled my subscription to the banbury guardian sadly. If i was a local resident i'd just ask to view it for free there are worse sounds than a screeming engine!