club sec
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Croft circuitFrom today's Northern Echo.
A RACING circuit today lost its appeal against having to pay damages to a couple and their daughter who say their lives have been blighted by noise from the track.
Croft Circuit, near Darlington, were also hit with an injunction, restricting "noisy activities" at the track to just 40 days-a-year.
Derek and Julia Watson and their daughter, Jill Wilson, all live within about 300 metres of the circuit, in Dalton-on-Tees, and say their enjoyment of their homes has for years been gravely affected by the "loud, intrusive and repetitive noise".
In an extremely rare decision in April last year, High Court judge, Mr Justice Simon, ruled all three had been victims of "noise nuisance" and ordered the circuit's tenants - Croft Promo-Sport Ltd - to pay Mr and Mrs Watson £109,600 damages, and Mrs Wilson £40,000.
Croft Promo-Sport had its appeal against that order dismissed by judges today.
The company also faces massive legal costs bills. The Watsons and Mrs Wilson were represented by top QC, David Hart, and their legal costs bills alone have been put at around £700,000.
At London's Appeal Court, Croft Promo-Sport had argued that Mr Justice Simon was "plainly wrong" to rule in favour of the Watsons, who live at "Pond House", Vince Moor East, and their daughter, whose adjacent home is called "The Granary".
Richard Jones QC, for the company, argued that 1963 and 1988 planning permissions granted for the race track - formerly a World War 2 aerodrome and first used for racing in 1949 - had "changed the character" of the area to such an extent that the noise levels were reasonable.
He added that noise and other issues relating to the racetrack had been carefully considered by expert planning inspectors during two public inquiries and a balance struck between the interests of local residents and the public amenity value of the circuit.
The QC said the court decision would have serious implications for the future use of the racetrack and had left Croft Promo-Sport not only exposed to enormous legal costs bills, but also open to other potential claims by an "uncertain number" of other neighbouring landowners.
However, Appeal Court judge, Sir Andrew Morritt, today said he could find no legal flaw in Mr Justice Simon's conclusion that the Watsons and Mrs Wilson had suffered an "actionable nuisance".
Sir Andrew, sitting with Lord Justice Richards and Lady Justice Hallett, also ruled it was "illogical" of Mr Justice Simon to deny the trio an injunction, restricting the number of days to 40 on which "noisy activities" can take place at the racetrack.
Croft Promo-Sport were refused permission to appeal further to the House of Lords and ordered to pay more than £120,000 in legal costs straight away. That will be only a fraction of the total lawyers' bills faced by the company.
The objection by the Watsons and Ms Wilson was not to car and motorbike racing events, which take place on the track on about 45-50 days-a-year, but to "vehicle testing days" and "track days", when members of the public drive cars around the track all day long at high speed.
Croft Promo-Sport Ltd has a leasehold interest in the circuit, which is managed by Croft Classic and Historic Motor Sports Ltd (CCHM). CCHM was set up in 1994 by Mr Jimmy Wilson - who was married to Jill Wilson between 1987 and 1994 - along with Trevor Chaytor-Norris and his wife Katherine, who is the owner of the Croft Motor Circuit.
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Road Rally Dave
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In true Victor Meldew style ............. I don't believe it.
I started watching car racing at croft back in the late seventies through until old circuit closed (was that early eighties ?) - where were these protestors then ?
I then watched the early rallycross events and saw the track gradually develop as a rallycross circuit including a memorable Internations cup back when everyone had the recently banned Group B rallycars - Sport Quattros, T16 Peugeots, RS200s, 6R4s - where were these protestors then ?
Then, after I had moved away from the area, the current race circuit developed and suddenly there are protestors !
I guess the loss of trackdays will give a serious loss of income to Croft circuit, but more importantly it probably opens up a huge can of worms for all other motorsport venues of any type ?
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Gav Taylor
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Croft wont be here in 5 years time.
Those track days and media launches were its bread and butter.
All cos of a jilted f**king wife. 
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club sec
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Sad and sorry state of affairs, this country is all to pot, it's about time the govt got a grip.
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skodaman
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It would have been cheaper to buy the houses off them !!!!
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skodaman
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Isn't Croft circuit in the flight path for Durham Tees Valley airport anyway? This Sucks !!!!
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skodaman
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Did i forget to mention the East Coast railway line running through their back gardens as well !!!!! Noise nuisance my ar$e
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club sec
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And the main road from Darlo to Northallerton.
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club sec
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I'd just like to point out that Gav has not paid his membership for 2009 and SDMC therefore disown him in respect of that last comment.
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Gav Taylor
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| club sec wrote: | | I'd just like to point out that Gav has not paid his membership for 2009 YET and SDMC therefore disown him in respect of that last comment. |
nah I'm only kidding there was alot of grief on the BR forum about the press getting hold of posts such as mine and then going to town on the sport as a whole.
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club sec
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Need to be whiter than white.
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Gav Taylor
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what post we talking about anyway? 
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Road Rally Dave
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| club sec wrote: | | Sad and sorry state of affairs, this country is all to pot, |
Think it is time to emigrate 
Only I can't sell the house or the cars cos of credit situation and the govt won't support my business cos I'm not a (b)anker or a car manufacturer. 
Oh well, might as well stay here any carry on moaning. I think I am slowly becoming a new, less Scottish, Victor Meldrew
There, that's better.
Now then, do I need to put gravel tyres on for some extra grip in the snow on Sunday......... will be watching the weather with interest.
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swisstony
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These people are just out for a quick £££££ , surley when they moved in to these houses they realised that there was a racing circuit there !! what did they expect ?????
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swisstony
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or another option :...... ill gladly swap houses with them , i would love to live in walking distance of croft , ! 
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Gav Taylor
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Bloody hell Shorty...fancy seeing you here mate!
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club sec
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Oh no there's 2 of them on from Aycliffe, must be related.........
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club sec
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club sec
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Ecomentalists have now turned theit attention to Teesside.
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Road Rally Dave
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| club sec wrote: | | Ecomentalists have now turned theit attention to Teesside. |
Are they trying to ban it all (Teesside that is) ??
Or are you on about the kart track / complex ?
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bob_mck
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have you seen the pollution in the air 5-10 miles away, a few piddly go carts wont make that much difference!
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club sec
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club sec
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club sec
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2009 Race Meetings - Croft Circuit
Feature Meetings
13/14 June - British Touring Car Championship (BARC)
12/13 September - British Superbike Championship (MSVR)
Club/National Events
22 March - Rallycross Open Championship (PSM Ltd)
4/5 April - Club Bike Meeting (North East MCRC)
13 April - British Sprint Championship (Darlington & DMC)
18/19 April - Club Bike Meeting (Derby Phoenix MCC)
16/17 May - Club Car Meeting (Darlington & DMC)
11/12 July - Club Car Meeting (BARC)
25/26 July - Club Car Meeting (BARC)
22/23 August - Dunlop Great & British Car Meeting (BARC)
26/27 September - Club Car Meeting (Darlington & DMC)
11 October - British Open Rallycross* (BRDA)
31 Oct/1 Nov - Rallycross Superprix (PSM Ltd)
27 December - Christmas Stages Rally (Northallerton AC)
*to be confirmed
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bob_mck
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isnt the british touring car and superbike events ment to be over 3 days normally??
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Gav Taylor
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| bob_mck wrote: | | isnt the british touring car and superbike events ment to be over 3 days normally?? |
I would think each of those events take out 5 days a piece for noisy day do they?
All the touring cars boys stop in Redworth Hall if that floats ya boat / ya bird wants to sleep with a touring car driver.
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sparky2i
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| Gav Taylor wrote: | | bob_mck wrote: | | isnt the british touring car and superbike events ment to be over 3 days normally?? |
I would think each of those events take out 5 days a piece for noisy day do they?
All the touring cars boys stop in Redworth Hall if that floats ya boat / ya bird wants to sleep with a touring car driver. |
so your there with out fail then taylor every year
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Gav Taylor
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aye smashing a max power girls pasty bro
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