A UNANIMOUS decision has been made to allow a famous motoring circuit to operate for longer.
Chichester councillors voted last week to approve a permanent change to the track’s opening hours and decrease the number of ‘silent’ days.
The changes had already been approved on a trial basis two years ago, but councillors wanted to make sure they would result in more noise and complaints from neighbours.
Speaking on the new application at a development control committee north meeting, Cllr Andrew Smith said neighbouring parishes had ‘no objection’ and there was ‘no basis’ to object. Chichester City Council, Lavant Parish Council and Singleton Parish Council raised no objections to the application.
Responding to the application, Summersdale Residents’ Association said: “Whilst a degree of tolerance is to be expected, there are no doubt occasions when genuine annoyance is caused to some of our residents.
“Fortunately, these instances appear to be getting fewer in number and the introduction of the new operation and noise management plans in 2010, far from causing the problems that many feared, appear to have improved the situation.”
Permanent changes now approved include: the allowance of ten hours of high-speed racing on historic race days and use of the circuit for road-speed driving for a maximum of ten Sundays a year; removal of the limit on the number of vehicles using the track at any one time; and more self-policing of noise levels by Goodwood Road Racing Company. There will be 49 ‘silent days’ every year.
Seven residents had objected to the permanent permission, raising concerns about Sunday noise and the general health impacts of racing noise.