Mallory Park and the 1000 bikes festival

[Aladinsaneuk]

I received this email today:

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:

Steve.Atkinson@hinckley-bosworth.gov.uk

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 jmpr35@gmail.com.

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
jmpr35@gmail.com

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.

Even though I am not a local, i do feel very strongly about the 1000 bikes - to hear the old machines is a large part of the event for me and for many - I will be emailing the person with my views - I thought others may share that view

[Aladinsaneuk]

and my letter:

Dear Sir

as a long time motor cyclist and a multiple attender of the 1000 bikes festival at mallory, I thought I should write to you too share some of my thoughts.

Even though I am a mere stripling of 47, I am some one who enjoys the history of motor cycles - not just the race bikes, but all the wonderful vehicles I get to see and hear while attending the 1000 bikes festival

Please note I said hear as well as see - I was too young to see Mike Hailwood racing, or Barry Sheene in his prime - but to see their machines, being ridden on parade laps is a very emotive experience - and the aural experience is like no other. In a similar fashion, all the old british single thumpers - the Matchless, AJS Nortons etc, is something that until i went to the festival was something I only thought i would see on old film footage - but to experience it by standing on a corner as a bit of living history goes past.... words cannot do it justice.

I would also stress that this is living history - each year the variety of machines from all ages is remarkable - and that is before we get to see former world stars reunited on their old machines.

As a visitor to the area (I would also point out that me and my family stay in the area for four days using local businesses), i would urge you to consider the 1000 bikes festival as a heritage event - and increasingly not just a national but an international heritage event as each year i meet groups of people who have travelled from around Europe to attend the event.

With this in mind, I would suggest that the 1000 bikes festival continues in its current format

Regards

Pete Dean

[mangocrazy]

Yes, but the only real voices that count are those of the residents of Kirkby Mallory, by the sound of it. While there is huge backing for Festival of 1000 Bikes from people all over the country, that apparently counts for nothing compared to the views of a handful of residents.

[Aladinsaneuk]

true graham

but - the 1000 bikes is a money spinner for the locals....

and i received the following reply

Dear Mr Dean

Many thanks for your e-mail, which I will take into account in the
ongoing discussions with Mallory Park Ltd and the local village
residents, which seem now to be reaching a definitive stage.

Regards

Steve Atkinson

i guess even though it involves the NIMBYs it is a part of our heritage.... i do rather fear that I will have to take some baffles with me this year.....

[D-Rider]

It's the 2 day events that will add most to the local economy - those events where people don't just ride in stay on site and then ride home. If people are there for more than a day the local pubs, shops, filling station, newsagents etc will all benefit (maybe the odd B&B too).
Those who run such businesses will surely be some of the most keen to keep these events going.

[Dalemac]

1. If you do not want to hear noise from a race track, do not buy a house near a race track.

Do i need a second point?

[D-Rider]

1. If you do not want to hear noise from a race track, do not buy a house near a race track.

Do i need a second point?

Apparently in this day and age, yes

[Dusty]

I think Croft has the same problem. I agree with Dalemac on this and I really don't understand why people buy a house in the full knowledge of the circuit's use and then attempt to change everything. However, I suppose there is the argument that, as track days became more popular, the disturbance moved on from a few weekend race meetings per year to practically every weekend and also weekdays.

[D-Rider]

.... and probably many of these people are those that push for ever more slow speed limits on the open roads which encourages people to get their "speed fix" on these same trackdays.

My betting is that if you were to get sent on speed awareness courses or whatever, they also tell you that you should be using a track for fun (though that's just speculation on my part) ..... and these tracks need to be near enough for people to get to.

I think the rise of trackdays is at least in part a response to the way that society seems to increasingly believe that life must be slow and boring.

[BikerGran]

They've had similar problems at Castle Combe circuit and there seems to be very little racing there now.

[back_marker]

It could be argued that changes in the technology commonly used these days has led to more noticeable noise - for example modern high revving bike engines make a very different sound to the 2-strokes that were commonplace not so long ago.

When I lived in Tidworth, I was around 2 1/2 miles from Thruxton as the crow flies but could clearly hear the bikes every time they raced there - couldn't hear the cars at all.

A similar issue has been affecting the Motocross scene over the past 10 years or so with the use of 4-stroke bikes become the norm - although they are not actually any louder if measured, the deeper sound they make carries for miles unlike the whiny stinkwheels that never really bothered anyone.

I would suggest, as someone already mentioned, that the majority of those complaining have lived in the area for some time and bought houses when noise from the track was not such an issue.

[beyond]

So basically, speeding is frowned upon on the queens highway and the government has gone to great lengths to stop us from getting our kicks there. Now people are trying to stop others using dedicated areas for which they can get their speed kicks. The imposing noise limits already in existence can already be offputting (anyone got a Panignale?!).

So what will happen, bikers will start to speed more on the roads again?

[Paulh]

Council report here which gives a bit more detail of the issues

http://www.leicestershireparishcouncils ... 875995.doc

[BikerGran]

Linky no worky?

[Aladinsaneuk]

Worked for me

Looks like the festival they had at the end of July was a very silly move