STOCK car racing and speedway meetings at a Suffolk stadium will be subject to tighter controls to ensure that noise does not disrupt the lives of nearby residents.

Richard Smith

STOCK car racing and speedway meetings at a Suffolk stadium will be subject to tighter controls to ensure that noise does not disrupt the lives of nearby residents.

New regulations are proposed for the use of Foxhall stadium, near Ipswich, following consultation between Suffolk Coastal and parish councils, the promoters of speedway, and Spedeworth, who manage stock car racing.

Philip Ridley, head of planning services, says in a report to tonight's meeting of Suffolk Coastal's licensing and health committee: ''Every year there have been complaints that short-circuit racing and other activities there are noisy, enough to interfere with individuals' enjoyment of their homes.

''Analysis of past complaints shows that it is not just noise that is a cause, but meetings continuing past the time fixed for their conclusion.

''Many residents seem to have been tolerant unless the noise went on late into the evening. Action taken by the council and more effective management by the stadium operator has eliminated the problem of over-running meetings.

''Activities at the stadium that do disturb local residents may infringe their right to the peaceful enjoyment of their homes. They could also be claimed to affect the value of their properties.''

Kesgrave Town Council is pleased with the changes and parish councillors in Rushmere St Andrew say the alterations are a big improvement. However, Little Bealings Parish Council wants a reduction in the number of events.

The six-week consultation period attracted only two comments from the public directly to Suffolk Coastal, with calls for keeping two Bank Holiday Mondays free of events, and observations about the timing of events.

Spedeworth Motorsports, owners of the stadium, has agreed to most of the proposed changes but the company says it can not omit two Bank Holidays from the programme because these are busy periods and generate revenue from the public.

It will not agree to a reduction in the 55 allocated race dates in a year because some of these dates are set aside for rained-off speedway meetings.

The agreed changes relate to the timings of events and engine starting. Spectators are warned they can not bring in any klaxon, horn or similar instrument.

Planning permission for the use of Foxhall stadium was granted in 1949. An Operating Formula was set up in 1978 and the alterations apply to this agreement. It will be reviewed in five years.