Remote control car club gets permanent home
A remote control car club has a permanent home after planning permission was granted.
The East Shrewsbury Buggy Racing Club has been in operation for over 15 years at various sites but has issues settling because of short-term availability of land.
Temporary consent for a track at Painsbrook Farm in Hadnall was granted in June 2015.
The most recent application has made that base permanent.
Planning officer Richard Denison said: “Having regard that there have been no identified noise or highway implications in the past three years there is no objection to a permanent permission being granted.”
The nearest alternative track for the club, which has 35 members, would be in Nottingham, while others are at Ledbury and Gloucester.
The club races RC buggies which are one eighth scale between April and October with one practice event per week and six interclub events throughout summer on Saturdays and Sundays.
There would also be six competitive weekends between November and March.
A planning statement by Shaun Jones, of agents Halls Holdings Limited, said: “A track on the grass field would be used with no permanent track. The land would still effectively be agricultural and be grazed/mown between events.
“A mobile rostrum would be required so that drivers are elevated at six to eight feet above ground level so that they can see their cars around the track. That would be mobile.”
The applicants, PR Brisbourne and Son, said one of the key concerns had been the generation of noise but added it would not be more than that generated by the A49 or helicopters at RAF Shawbury.
It also said electric cars which are sometimes used do not create noise.
Mr Jones added: “The use of land at Painsbrook for the use of remote control cars as a leisure activity will increase visitor numbers to Shropshire, without having an adverse impact on the environment and nature. There are many social benefits of creating this permanent site for the racing of remote control cars.
“The site provides an opportunity for club members to meet regularly. It also delivers a sustainable site for eventers competing from all over the UK.”
By Emily Lloyd, Local Democracy Reporter
