Dunkeswell Raceway

You may be interested in the following from the Raceway Sub Committee, a SC of the Sheldon Parish Meeting, elected to represent the villagers of Sheldon in matters related to the Dunkeswell Raceway. The planning applications can be viewed on East Devon District Council’s planning portal – reference number 25/0382/VAR, 25/0383/VAR and 25/0382/VAR.  The deadline to submit comments is 11 April 2025.

Combe Raleigh Parish Meeting has not been consulted by EDDC on these applications so they will not be discussed in a meeting. Individual comments can, of course, be submitted.

 

BRIEFING  FOR  OUR NEIGHBOURING  VILLAGES

  1. Beginning in 2006, as a consequence of the uncontrolled noise and disruption from the karting facility in the past, there was a campaign of protest action, including a march of some 800 local residents, coverage on local TV and an extensive and indeed expensive legal battle.
  2. In 2010 a Section 106 (S106) Agreement was made, under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, between East Devon District Council (EDDC) and the then owners of Mansell Raceway.  A key point, among many others, is the limit of 33 practice and race days per year.
  3. The Agreement has proved to be a reasonably effective tool in maintaining disruption from the Raceway to tolerable levels. Restrictions include noise levels from 2 stroke engines, racing on 2 consecutive weekend days only and none on the first two weekends of any month.
  4. A summary of the S106 can be seen at  https://eastdevon.gov.uk/environmental-health-and-wellbeing/noise/motorsport-noise.
  5. In 2023 the Raceway was purchased by a new owner.
  6. His applications for Planning Permission is now available on the EDDC Planning Portal –  www.eastdevon.gov.uk/planning/.  Reference numbers 25/0382/VAR, 25/0383/VAR and 25/0384/VAR.
  7. The Planning Applications propose the following key changes to the status quo embodied in the S106 agreement that has protected us for so many years:
  8. an increase in the numbers of race days from 33 to 42;
  9. three-day race meetings instead of two days;
  10. weekday racing;
  11. race meetings being held not just in the final two weekends of a month, and
  12. an increase in the number of leisure karts from 12 to 24 at any one time.
  13. These changes are significant and represent a substantial increase in the noise pollution we face and need to be strongly opposed. And potentially of course, if successful, the Raceway might look to do even more.
  14. If approved, these applications will mean more noise, more pollution, more traffic and more damage to our environment.
  15. We are seeking your support by opposing the applications through the online portal.
  16. There is a very limited time in which to comment on the applications.