OULTON Park Racing Circuit's owner Motor Sport Vision looks set to replace a number of car races with motorbike events following extensive noise assessment.
Detailed noise studies have been conducted, on behalf of the circuit's Liaison Group, by environmental consultants working for Vale Royal Borough Council.
MSV has now agreed to noise restrictions being put in place to prevent sound from the bikes being heard in Little Budworth and the surrounding area.
Cllr Dennis Ford said: 'This work has enabled us to assess the difference between the noise levels created in the local villages by car and bike events at the circuit.
'Whilst this has established that bikes are slightly louder than cars, we have agreed additional restrictions on the bikes themselves that will ensure there is no audible difference beyond the circuit.' Oulton Park is also introducing new controls aimed at limiting the off site impact of its public address system. In addition it will also install trackside noise monitoring equipment. This will assist the circuit to identify and control individual vehicles that are particularly noisy and that are on the track itself.
Rosemary Whittaker, chairwoman of the Liaison Group and a member of Little Budworth Parish Council, said: 'Our concern has always been about the impact of excessive noise on the local community. Attempts are now being made to address this and with on-going monitoring this initiative is welcomed.'
MSV chief executive Jonathan Palmer said: 'We have been eager to have increased flexibility of operations at Oulton Park in order to maintain the economic viability of the circuit at a time of increasing overhead costs. However, we recognise this should not result in any increase of noise locally.'
