Controversial plans to host motocross races near Winchester have been changed but local opposition remains.
A large number of residents objected last year when proposals were made to Winchester City Council to grant a permanent licence for scrambling events at Three Maids Hill near Winchester.
Mr Child’s original plans had been to get permanent permission for hosting motocross events after a temporary five-year licence expired in April. After much debate and an open meeting of the planning committee, planners rejected the scheme in August 2009.
Now applicant - Tony Child - is on the verge of submitting revised plans for the site that will do away with motocross events. Instead, he wants to provide paintball, archery, mountain bike and 4x4 activities for the corporate market.
But the motocross plans are not completely dead – Mr Child said no decision had been made about whether to appeal against Winchester City Council’s August 09 ruling.
A consultation meeting for members of the public was held at Littleton Millennium Hall on the Monday before Christmas when Mr Child said he was confident he could make the plans work. He said: “With the local community 99.9 per cent of the complaints we had were all down to noise and we feel by going to a quieter business it’s not going to cause a problem.”
Local councillor Stephen Godfrey, city councillor for South Wonston, attended the meeting and said by allowing even a low-noise application it would pave the way for higher levels further down the line.
“There’s a fear that by encouraging motorsport activities – even at a low-noise level – the character of the area will be affected and there will still be problems with dust and dirt,” said Cllr Godfrey.”
“The few details given at the meeting were not well-received by residents as there seems little to prevent a negative impact on the 3000 nearby homes and businesses. I will continue to press for the re-instatement of the site and prevent the use of motor vehicles there.”
Prospective Winchester MP Steve Brine added; ““Residents and local businesses, such as the stud, spoke very clearly first time around I am sure they will want to express a view on this revised proposal. I think the timing of the meeting, just four days before Christmas Day, may have prevented some people from taking as much interest as they might otherwise wish so I would urge them to seek it out on the City Council website or via my own.”
You can view the revised planning application and comment via this page which will carry a live link as soon as the formal application is released to the Winchester City Council website.
Meanwhile an appeal against a city council enforcement order – to return the site near the A34 back to its former agricultural state – will be heard on March 9.
STEVE BRINE TV - you can watch a discussion with Prospective MP Steve Brine and local councillor Stephen Godfrey from the last application in the Summer of 2009. Click this link! (opens in a new window to You Tube).