Council to decide campsite bid

Monday 12th March 2007, 12:00AM GMT.

District councillors are to decide on proposals by a motor club to nearly double the size of the camping area at a north Shropshire race track despite objections from a number of residents.

Salop Motor Club is looking to extend its caravan and camping area at the scramble track at Hawkstone Park for race meetings.

A previous application was deferred last month so officers could monitor the club’s last international race meeting a few weeks ago.

The club has been holding motocross meetings for more than 50 years and wants to increase the camping area from 4.7 hectares to eight hectares to cope with demand at large meets.

District councillors are being recommended to approve the application at a development control meeting on Wednesday.

However, the issue has caused controversy because of traffic concerns and residents’ worries over noise, human waste, litter, burning and fireworks. Despite this temporary permission was granted nearly a year ago to allow the situation at the track to be re-assessed.

Thousands of racing fans turn out to larger events at Hawkstone throughout the year. Parish councillors support the application because they feel there has to be provision for camping.

However, seven letters have been sent to North Shropshire District Council in relation to the bid.

A report to councillors recommends strict conditions be imposed to limit the length of time the campers and caravanners are on site.

It adds that the last meet saw 2,438 spectator cars at the site and 360 campers and caravanners but following monitoring by officers and the police there was not considered to be a “detrimental impact” on the area.



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