Cerrigydrudion go-kart track has noise rules relaxed

Glan y Gors Go Kart Racetrack in Cerrigydrudion applied to Conwy County Council, seeking planning permission to increase ‘race days’ from 10 days to 15, allowing him to potentially increase noise levels from 78 decibels to 102.

That bid was approved by councillors on the council’s planning committee, against the advice of officers. 

Although GYG are available for bookings with their own go-karts year-round, which are generally smaller and quieter, the business wanted the ability to also book championship motorsport go-karts.

Whilst some championship go-karts are electric and use smaller engines, others have more powerful engines, which potentially can make more noise, as classes vary greatly.

GYG boss Eddie Davies said the firm wanted the ability to hold more events, with varying classes of go-kart.

But Conwy’s environment and planning officers said they were uneasy with allowing an increase in noise as it could annoy residents living close by.

The committee heard how three households on the southside of the nearby A5 objected to the plans.

Conwy’s environmental officer Mr Williams warned: “It is up to any individual whether they wish to make a noise complaint or not to the authority.

“It is possible or probable that, with the intensification of going from 10 weekends at the moment to 15 weekends, it could be the straw that breaks the camel’s back for some people, and we will receive complaints, and we will have to act upon those complaints and deal with it accordingly. It is up to an individual whether they wish to make a complaint or not.”

He added: “An increase of three decibels doubles the sound volume.”

“If an authority is aware of a statutory nuisance, it has a duty to serve an abatement notice. It cannot shirk away from that responsibility.”

He then warned that a business could comply with all planning restrictions but still cause a nuisance and in such cases the authority had a duty to take action.

But speaking in favour of his application, Mr Davies said his circuit was vital to the local economy.

“This is a rural area, and there’s not much else going on really,” he said.

“On the race meetings, with the amount of people we do (attract), we worked out the benefits for the rural area, the hotels, the bed and breakfast, everything… It brings in between £400,000 and £500,000 into the area, not for us – I wish it was – for the area, which is an achievement really. I employ seven full-time (workers) and 20 part time, and on the race meetings it goes up to about 40 part time.”

Mr Davies then said electric cars were also coming, and added: “We’ve done three noise reports on the circuit at different events, and they’ve all come in our favour. There is no more noise than the A5 or any tractor going around, so I don’t quite understand that one really.”

He then claimed some neighbours backed the plans, adding: “My boys want to take the circuit to another level to bring these big championships to the area to benefit all of us. We are a little link to that big chain of tourism.”

Mr Davies also had the backing of local councillor Gwennol Ellis.

She said: “I know the importance of GYG Go-Karting. GYG has a lot of attention on TV and live streaming across the UK and Europe and can show the beautiful area and the local area of the track for Conwy County Council. GYG is the most used business and employer for the local economy.

“I haven’t had any complaints about the noise from the local residents or neighbours, and I haven’t had any complaint from anyone except those who have responded to this application. The location is in a windy area, and the noise varies depending on the direction of the wind.”

Cllr Ellis then claimed the go-karting business was vital for tourism.

She added: “I’m concerned about the future of this business if the application is being refused. I think we need to put this in its context. They ask for 15 (weekends) out of 365 days a year. I propose we go against the recommendation and go ahead with this application.”

Cllr Alan Hunter then seconded her proposal, arguing he regularly attended the racetrack at Anglesey, where he said noise was not an issue.

He then made comparisons between the noise of a single championship go-kart and a chainsaw, claiming a chainsaw was ‘about 100 decibels’.

“I really benefited from going to the site visit yesterday,” he said.

“What I will say is, from the site visit and what I’ve researched on this and the comparisons, I second the motion to go with it against the officers’ recommendation.”

But Conwy’s head of planning Ceri Thomas remained unconvinced.

“I do feel uneasy by 102 decibels,” he said.

“I feel it is well above what is currently being calculated at the trackside noise level.”

But councillors voted in favour of the application.

The meeting’s chairman Cllr Austin Roberts reminded the committee the decision would have to be ratified at the next meeting, given that they had gone against officers’ recommendation.