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Are We To A Lose Venue? Mallory Park Under Threat

Just a quick note.

Looks like Mallory Park is being threatened with closure and once again it seems “noise” is the overriding reason.

Link To Hinckely Times Story

and the council report:Council Report On Noise

Now I will admit to being a little bit bias on this matter, loving virtually all forms of motorsport (I just don’t get drifting).

Here is what Mallory Park say on their facebook page:

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Dear Friend of Mallory Park

This mail is to bring you up to date on all activity related to the noise issues at Mallory Park/Kirkby Mallory and ask for your action if you value the continued operation of the circuit. I will keep this as brief and to the point as possible – although there is a lot to go through.

1: A small group of Friends and circuit management met on 13th December after an open invite (six attendees in total). The discussion was wide ranging and included the agreement Mallory came to with Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council on 2013 operation in November that was then subsequently rejected by the Liaison Group on behalf of the residents. The Council then refused to implement the November agreement as it did not have the support of the Liaison Group.

It is our understanding that this proposal was not put to the Kirkby Mallory residents en masse by the Liaison Group.

The abridged highlights of the November 2012 proposed agreement with the Council are:
The cessation of all motocross activity
Agreement to spend £100,000+ on the erection of minimum of 130m of acoustic fencing to reduce noise at various points on the circuit – subject to planning permission
Installation of noise monitoring systems to be put in place
Agreement to limit use of the Hairpin section of track on quiet days
10 x 2-day weekend events allowed per year
18 Saturdays per year at 98dba, no more than two of these per calendar month
40 race days per year
Saturday/Sunday quiet day agreed to 45-55dba
Weekday use – 3 per week, subject to ACU 105db and MSA 108dba levels
Two quiet weekdays per week agreed at 45-55dba
Special events e.g. Festival of 1000 Bikes require noise management plan to be approved and 2 compensatory No Use days the weekend following or preceding
An annual calendar of events to be agreed with HBBC and published on its website.
5-year review of new agreement or when requested by HBBC or Mallory Park.
Mallory Park’s interpretation of this is that a max usage per year by the circuit of 217 days, but due to the noted restraints and seasonality of the circuit activity, expectations are at approximately 160-days use per year – all with new noise reduction measures implemented (Background is that the circuit has been operating for 28-years since the 1985 agreement with anywhere between 160-220 days used per year at 98dba noise level or above). This November 2012 proposed agreement represents a 20% reduction on activity with increased noise control/reduction measures on recent activity.

Mallory Park is currently operating to this November 2012 agreement for 2013 and this is our favoured way forward if possible as it is financially viable.

2: Following the Council’s decision not to implement the November 2012 proposed agreement, Mallory Park then spoke directly to Garry Ball and the Liaison Group with the aim of coming to an agreement together with the residents and then presenting a untied front to the Council.

We met at Garry’s home on 23rd January and in Mallory Park’s interpretation the discussion was generally positive and there appeared to be a willingness to negotiate and come to an agreed way forward.

After this a number of communications went back and forth from both sides suggesting possible compromise operational levels. The basics of this discussion were:
The Liaison Group offered guidance advice on what it thought would be acceptable and would recommend or put to residents
After further clarification of the 1985 agreement and note of hard attitudes in the village, Garry advised that the responsibility to act now lies with the Council. Mallory agrees the Council is key to moving forward with a negotiated solution
The abridged details (in Mallory’s opinion) of discussions with Garry and the Liaison Committee included:
Mallory requested a special permit for the Festival of 1000 Bikes to be un-silenced due to the nature of older machines. There appeared to be willingness to negotiate to come to a solution here
Mallory suggested No Use days be re-classified as Non Motorsport and a DB level applied at 65db (normal road silenced car is rated at 80db). Garry indicated if residents cannot hear the activity then no problem
Garry had proposed an equal number of noisy/no use weekend days per four-week cycle. Effectively out of 16 days, 8 for use and 8 non use. Mallory requested this to change to 12 days use out of every 16 with an emphasis on the summer months due to seasonality. Garry then suggested 26x 2-day weekend usage as a compromise. Mallory Park is broadly agreeable to this
Liaison Group has no issue with Wednesday test days
Despite running at ACU/MSA noise levels for three weekdays for the last 28-years, the Council has now interpreted that noise levels must be 45db-55db. This is a significant change from previous understanding and the Liaison Group is supporting this interpretation. If applied, this is a significant threat to the operation of the circuit
Mallory requested the Windmill Field be used for a grass track demonstration during the Festival of 1000 Bikes and the rest of the year it would be for parking and camping only. Garry asked if Mallory could use the old moto cross track instead. This could not work as not flat enough to allow grass track riding
A full published calendar was agreed
No drifting at all at the circuit was agreed
Garry requires any new agreement to be enforced in law. Mallory is agreeable to this.
It is Mallory’s opinion that the above discussions were productive but the onus for agreement has now moved to the Council rather than with the Liaison Group. It is residents’ influence on the Council that will assist with further negotiations and solutions.

3: The Council has now served legal proceedings against Mallory Park for five breeches of the 1985 agreement from 2012. It has also indicated that mid-week the circuit can only operate on a Wednesday at noisy levels. It will enforce all positions from 1st April 2013.

4: Jason Newbury from the Parish Council met with John Ward and myself on 18th February to try and determine Mallory Park’s side of the story. We agreed to share what we could with him so that the Parish Council could display a balanced view.

5: On the same evening a letter from the Liaison Group was distributed to the village, provoking a vocal response from pro-circuit residents.

6: Moving forward

BARC is now taking legal advice on the court summons by the Council. I can say nothing more at this time as this is a very complex area of law.

It is clear that the Council has heard little support from residents supporting the continued operation of the circuit.

The circuit remains committed to working with residents and the Council in an attempt to remain financially viable and operational. It is prepared to negotiate as required so that all parties can move forward with confidence.

7: MALLORY PARK KINDLY REQUESTS

A: If you wish the circuit to continue operating, then please write to Steve Atkinson at Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council. He needs to know that there are residents that support the circuit. To help structure your communication to him, please consider the following discussion points.

B: Would you be agreeable to the operational levels mentioned in point 1 above? If yes, please tell him so.

C: If you are not agreeable to the above point 1 would you be supportive to a cessation of HBBC legal action and a short time-frame of negotiations to take place with a view to reaching a compromise solution that will allow the circuit to continue operating?

D: We request that you speak with your neighbours and ask them to write to the Council as well, based on the above A-C points.

The address to direct all correspondence is:

[email protected]

Or

Steve Atkinson
Council Offices
Argents Mead
Hinckley
Leicestershire
LE10 1BZ

If possible, so we can gauge residents’ opinion, please copy your mails to Mallory Park at [email protected].

I am available at any time to discuss the above or any other circuit based issue. I do hope that you can spare the time to write to Steve Atkinson and greatly appreciate your efforts to support the circuit. Mallory Park needs all the friends it can get in the village right now.

Thanks and hopefully speak soon.

Jason McClean
07734-113554
[email protected]

Mallory Park, the Friendly Circuit, is situated in the heart of the midlands in Leicestershire just off the A47 between Leicester and Hinckley and easily accessible from the M1, M69 or M6. For further directions, please visit www.mallorypark.co.uk.

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I have sent an email and I hope anyone else reading this does too. I still maintain that this is one of the finest tracks in the country.

One Comment

  1. Garf

    I got the following reply to my email:

    Dear Mr Williams

    Thank you for your contribution to the consideration being given to this complex issue, on which the Council is working with both Mallory Park and with residents, many of long-standing, to secure a sustainable, common sense and generally acceptable resolution to recent issues.

    I appreciate the opportunity to clarify these points for you.

    Regards

    Steve Atkinson

    Chief Executive

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