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Airfield victory for protesters
10:30am Saturday 18th November 2006
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VILLAGERS have won a major - if not total - victory in their battle against noisy vehicle testing on an airfield near York.
A district judge has told the owners of Elvington Airfield that Formula One racing cars cannot be tested there on more than ten days a year.
That is less than the total ban residents wanted, but still fewer than the number of F1 testing days conducted so far this year - 16, according to council officials.
The judge also ordered that Auto 66 motorbike events should not take place more than once every six weeks and guaranteed that villagers should enjoy a quiet weekend once every four weeks.
There could be more quiet weekends if exceptionally noisy events are held, which would include speed tests such as the one organised by the BBC's Top Gear programme in September, in which presenter Richard Hammond was hurt after crashing a jet car.
Other noise restrictions suggested by City of York Council were imposed as well, and residents will be given four weeks' notice of noisy events taking place.
District Judge Harrison also ordered Elvington Park Ltd to pay three-quarters of City of York Council's estimated £40,000 costs, despite strong objections from the company's barrister.
The decision came at the end of a lengthy hearing, the first part of which took place at Pickering Magistrates Court, in July, before being adjourned and then resuming this week at Harrogate Magistrates Court.
During the summer hearing, resident Timothy Vicary claimed the "horrendous and outrageous" noise from vehicle testing was ruining the life of him and his wife. He said the noise of the testing of Formula One racing cars and motorcycle events made them depressed, irritated and angry.
Another resident, Denise Howard, compared the noise of the squeal of tyres on tarmac during testing to "howling banshees whipping through the house".
The court was also told then that McLaren's Formula One testing team could quit Britain if it was banned from the airfield.
The judge said yesterday there was no doubt that testing on the airfield, which has one of the longest runways in Britain, caused a nuisance to residents living nearby - and the company had now accepted this.
He said it would be unreasonable to prohibit Formula One testing altogether, but it should take place no more than ten days a year.
Residents who had travelled to Harrogate to hear the verdict said afterwards they viewed it largely as a victory, although they would like to have seen a total ban on Formula One testing.
Timothy Vicary said: "We have been badly affected (by the noise). We are glad that the court has decided in the council's favour."
A spokesman for Elvington Park Ltd declined to comment after the case, and would not say if it intended appealing against the decision.
Your Say YourYork Press
Val Weedon, says...
10:22am Sun 19 Nov 06
MAGGIE, says...
4:23pm Sun 19 Nov 06
Thom, says...
7:55pm Sun 19 Nov 06
It's depressing to me to see so many pastimes and activities now being regulated out because a few people don't like the sound.
Or as housing numbers increase, will only silent leisure activities be allowed? That field behind my house - I only want dogs to be walked there every other Sunday; the yapping interrupts my lie in!
My house is near a major A-Road. I do find it inconvenient; but I'm not considering asking the council to only allow it's use on certain days. I was aware of this before I moved here and appreciated that it would be an annoyance. If I considered it unacceptable I would move or have found somewhere else to live in the first place.
bazz, says...
9:19pm Sun 19 Nov 06
what about when the RAF was using it with Handley Page Halifax four-engined bombers or did these have silent wind up enginges, In the early 1960s the Blackburn Aircraft Company at Brough, near Hull, used the runway for test flying the prototype Buccaneer aircraft.
GET A LIFE !
JP, says...
9:32pm Sun 19 Nov 06
accident, says...
9:34pm Sun 19 Nov 06
its like the guy who moved next door to alton towers then spent the next 20 years complaining about the noise.
a local developer has built 500 houses less than a mile away from a local race track,never told the buyers that the track was there.
now they are trying to get the track closed rather than chase the developer who failed to disclose its existance.
people are for the most part very short sighted and focus on a very small part of the world
Ken, says...
11:36pm Sun 19 Nov 06
sam Bennett, says...
9:01am Mon 20 Nov 06
sam Bennett, says...
9:13am Mon 20 Nov 06
DP, says...
10:02am Mon 20 Nov 06
Companies often think they can do as they please, whenever they wish to, without rules or regulations.
Also, it's not as though most of the minority activities at Elvington seem to be useful or necessary, (e.g. from the previous contributor "Rallying some bikes") they appear a total waste of fuel and an unwanted addition to global warming.
Let's close the airfield and build houses on it before a contender to Leeds- Bradford airport is proposed!
x, says...
10:21am Mon 20 Nov 06
How many of these people fly to their holiday? just think of the noise living around manchester airport. do people complain, NO because the airport was there first.
ace, says...
10:25am Mon 20 Nov 06
bob, says...
10:43am Mon 20 Nov 06
Imposter, says...
12:02pm Mon 20 Nov 06
sam, says...
1:26pm Mon 20 Nov 06
Let's close the airfield and build houses on it before a contender to Leeds- Bradford airport is proposed !
agreed if its a council estate or are they not good enough for you ?
y, says...
1:44pm Mon 20 Nov 06
Everybody who enjoys these events (including F1 fans because without the testing it would limit the smaller teams)should petition in the press on behalf of the airfield owners.
UKB, says...
2:21pm Mon 20 Nov 06
However, don't forget that the ruling was not for a complete ban so maybe common sense prevails.....this time!
DAJ, says...
2:52pm Mon 20 Nov 06
You cant please all the people all the time, it would appear that there is a small group of people in Elvington that no matter what you did or how you did it, they would remain displeased, the sort of people (and we all know at least one) who doesnt consider they are having a good time unless they can moan about something, narrow minded nimbyism.
T L, says...
3:34pm Mon 20 Nov 06
z, says...
4:34pm Mon 20 Nov 06
Yorkie, says...
4:36pm Mon 20 Nov 06
nik, says...
4:49pm Mon 20 Nov 06
The more people that email the more chance of getting a result
maverick, says...
7:24pm Mon 20 Nov 06
slider, says...
8:21pm Mon 20 Nov 06
An active runway since 1942, when will these interfering old busy bodies leave the rest of us alone .
This place provides several companies with a business and provides jobs ,,,but aslong as your gardening isnt disturbed thats ok .
A waste of my council tax .
Did the same people complain about "The Dambusters" practising and stopping their hens laying .
slider, says...
8:26pm Mon 20 Nov 06
GET A JOB or A LIFE
Sam Green, says...
10:01pm Mon 20 Nov 06
After complaning to the local council for 12 months, the shoot was closed down.
Several hundred members of the shoot lost their sport or have to travel many miles to the next nearest shooting ground, all because of one very sad person.
I have been racing at Elvington for over 40 years and have been a proud holder of four British speed records on this, the only runway in the north of England long enough for record breaking speeds.
Thank you SAD PERSON for another sport lost.
Alan Cassidy, says...
11:56pm Mon 20 Nov 06
slider, says...
8:01am Tue 21 Nov 06
Ronald Psaila, says...
9:58am Tue 21 Nov 06
It's a pity that lazy people who want to live on social benefits have the say in these things. They are trying to hinder one of the most spectacular sports ever. Ii would be a pity if Mclaren F1 would leave the country because of these few bastards.
Dodge, says...
10:18am Tue 21 Nov 06
I have been involved with several motorcycle world record attempts at Elvington over many years and it is a very rare and precious facilaty to have access to, and it is a travisty that the 'few' have ruined it for the 'many' who enjoy their passion for motorsport at Elvington airfield.
TRULY A GREAT LOSS.
Seth, says...
10:53am Tue 21 Nov 06
Why buy a house next to an airfield/test track? (which it has been for many many years)
These complainers, should re-evaluate their viewpoint and choice of house purchase.
I recently raced at an event there, and every bike was strictly Db (sound tested), which just shows that the organisers Do consider the locals.
Why can't they reciprocate by being a lottle bit more open to compromise?
My Grandfather use to fly planes out of Elvington, So the place has a lot of meaning and happy memories for me.
It would be an travesty if all events were cancelled, on account of a minority of complainers.
Don't let the Euro Nazi's impose even more noise restrictions in Britain!
Dipsta, says...
12:45pm Tue 21 Nov 06
Like the majority here have said, "if you dont like it, move!"
racers have enough to contecnd with, without losing another circuit!
Sleeper, says...
1:32pm Tue 21 Nov 06
slider, says...
4:48pm Tue 21 Nov 06
Get rid of noise and heypresto my house just went up 20k .. its all about greed /money and a feeling of power.
They got their speed bumps all the way tho the village now they want more , amazing what you can get when you have a mate on the council.
Amazed48, says...
7:08pm Tue 21 Nov 06
MAGGIE wrote:Amazing! the vast majority of contributors ignored the important point made by Maggie in the third posting.
I don' think people realise that when some of the older residents in the area came to live there, this was not a problem. Small, light aircraft passing overhead once in a while is no trouble but continual whining noises which travel and so affect many people for miles around is distressing and disturbs leisure time during weekends. It is a mainly rural area around the airfield and so moise should be kept to a minimum.
"when some of the older residents in the area came to live there, this was not a problem. Small, light aircraft passing overhead once in a while is no trouble but continual whining noises which travel and so affect many people for miles around is distressing and disturbs leisure time during weekends."
Why should these people have to move out?
Just so that a few enthusiasts can appreciate useless, noisy, fuel-wasting "sports" (quite how they can be classified as sports defeats me! - get a life chaps)
P.S. I don't live anywhere near Elvington, so don't call me a NIMBY!
Seth, says...
8:06pm Tue 21 Nov 06
The first operational aircraft were the Whitley twin-engined bombers of 77 Squadron, although these were soon replaced by Handley Page Halifax four-engined bombers. The squadron took part in the Battle of the Ruhr and in many other operations aimed at the destruction of German industry. In early 1944, 77 Squadron moved to the newly opened airfield at Full Sutton and Elvington became host to two French Squadrons operating within No.4 Group: No. 346 (Guyenne) and No.347 (Tunisie). Both squadrons played a major part in the bomber offensive.
In March 1945, a Junker JU 88 attacked RAF Elvington when the landing lights were switched on awaiting the French squadrons' return. This aircraft crashed into a farmhouse on the B1228 near the airfield and a memorial to the four German airmen and the two civilians who were killed stands outside the house.
In October 1945, the French Squadrons left for Bordeaux and Elvington became part of 40 Group Maintenance Command until 1952 when it became part of the expansion programme for US Strategic Air Command. The runway was lengthened to 1.92 miles, the longest in the north of England. The base never became operational and it was vacated in 1958.
In the early 1960s, the Blackburn Aircraft Company at Brough, near Hull, used the runway for test flying the prototype Buccaneer aircraft. Afterwards, the RAF flying training schools at Church Fenton and Linton-on-Ouse used the runway to practise circuits and landings. RAF Elvington finally closed in March 1992.
So jets were being flown there up until 1992!
And the RAF used from the early 40's!
How many of the residents were living there prior to 1942 that are still alive?
You daft Nimby's are so sanctimonious...spose you don't waste fuel when you nip to the shop!
You people who scream and rant about the environment are nothing but intellectual fascists.
The Earths dying ...oh my go what are we going to do?
Alarmists, and hypocrites that you are.
Go back to sleep...or better still get yourself down the WI or back to the golf club and leave us people who know how to live life to get on with our internationally recognised sports and acheivements...God **** You People!.
Lorcan, says...
8:52pm Tue 21 Nov 06
Be careful what you wish for...
slider, says...
8:54pm Tue 21 Nov 06
Do you go on holiday in a jet plane , do you drive a car , do you thro plastic packaging in the bin ? Dont lecture us.
If you dont live near Elvington and dont use the airfield and support like we do ,,,,keep your nose out .
Sport is what it is,some think Golf is a waste of good farm land that could be feeding the third world . Go back to your cave and turn up the gas ,,,there goes another iceberg.
pinkie, says...
9:42pm Tue 21 Nov 06
balance this against a few complaints , from nimbys , who probably complain about everything , including the sound of children playing. as a democratic country , we should go with the majority , but when it comes to house resale values , democracy goes out of the window.
i'd just like to point out , i don't live near the runway , havn't used the runway , and probably never will. but i am a motorsport fan , and don't like the way middle england is eating in to our motorsport heritage.
Duncan, says...
1:18am Wed 22 Nov 06
Amazed48, says...
9:06am Wed 22 Nov 06
slider wrote:Slider, sadly it appears that you are the cavemen types who will need legislation levelled at you to force you to reduce unnecessary carbon footprint in order to protect the rest of us.
Amazed 48. Do you go on holiday in a jet plane , do you drive a car , do you thro plastic packaging in the bin ? Dont lecture us. If you dont live near Elvington and dont use the airfield and support like we do ,,,,keep your nose out . Sport is what it is,some think Golf is a waste of good farm land that could be feeding the third world . Go back to your cave and turn up the gas ,,,there goes another iceberg.
I also think from your contributions it is clear that you would be the first to complain if there was an 'ever - increasing-noise' year on year at the foot of your garden.
Seth, says...
12:50pm Wed 22 Nov 06
Amazed48 wrote:FOOL!
slider wrote: Amazed 48. Do you go on holiday in a jet plane , do you drive a car , do you thro plastic packaging in the bin ? Dont lecture us. If you dont live near Elvington and dont use the airfield and support like we do ,,,,keep your nose out . Sport is what it is,some think Golf is a waste of good farm land that could be feeding the third world . Go back to your cave and turn up the gas ,,,there goes another iceberg.Slider, sadly it appears that you are the cavemen types who will need legislation levelled at you to force you to reduce unnecessary carbon footprint in order to protect the rest of us. I also think from your contributions it is clear that you would be the first to complain if there was an 'ever - increasing-noise' year on year at the foot of your garden.
Mr T, says...
7:24pm Wed 22 Nov 06
Lets move onto the roads, preferably outside these troublesome do-gooders, and race there instead.
Judging by the outcome of this case, its clearly obvious the Judge in court does in fact live near Elvington. The law here is a joke, and getting worse.
Pete, says...
10:26pm Wed 22 Nov 06
As its just over 1.5 miles from Church Lane in Elvington village,
can you not hear the television, radio, people speaking ?
If they do close the airfield down in the end due to the complaints from the residents of the village, i hope they build something like a sewage farm or asylum seeker centre on there.
you gang of moaners
Zedhed, says...
10:48pm Wed 22 Nov 06
Amazed48 wrote:Amazed48
slider wrote:Slider, sadly it appears that you are the cavemen types who will need legislation levelled at you to force you to reduce unnecessary carbon footprint in order to protect the rest of us.
Amazed 48. Do you go on holiday in a jet plane , do you drive a car , do you thro plastic packaging in the bin ? Dont lecture us. If you dont live near Elvington and dont use the airfield and support like we do ,,,,keep your nose out . Sport is what it is,some think Golf is a waste of good farm land that could be feeding the third world . Go back to your cave and turn up the gas ,,,there goes another iceberg.
I also think from your contributions it is clear that you would be the first to complain if there was an 'ever - increasing-noise' year on year at the foot of your garden.
If you think a marginal amount of motorsport causes a global warming issue then your head is truly wedged right up your arse!
This country has a proud motorsport history that is gradually being eroded by the likes of you.
I've just spent the last four years building a bike to compete in flyers at Elvington now I'll have to make a 500 mile round trip to Woodbridge, that'll certainly help my carbon footprint!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You people are truly selfish tossers.
I wonder if you even thought of compromise like an earth barrier being constructed, £40k would of helped!
slider, says...
10:57pm Wed 22 Nov 06
Amazed48 wrote:No because im not stupid or retarded enough to buy a house near an airfield then moan about the noise .
slider wrote: Amazed 48. Do you go on holiday in a jet plane , do you drive a car , do you thro plastic packaging in the bin ? Dont lecture us. If you dont live near Elvington and dont use the airfield and support like we do ,,,,keep your nose out . Sport is what it is,some think Golf is a waste of good farm land that could be feeding the third world . Go back to your cave and turn up the gas ,,,there goes another iceberg.Slider, sadly it appears that you are the cavemen types who will need legislation levelled at you to force you to reduce unnecessary carbon footprint in order to protect the rest of us. I also think from your contributions it is clear that you would be the first to complain if there was an \'ever - increasing-noise\' year on year at the foot of your garden.
For your information there is a 16 turbine windfarm going to be built at the bottom of my garden , and i have no choice in the matter .Do you here me crying about it to my friend the judge. NO!
I work hard all week , pay tax , i choose motor sport as my hobby on my one day off a week , pay vat on the entry , tax on the fuel ,vat on the parts and tyres .
Am i not allowed to do that in this nanny state ?
I say again if you dont live in Elvington or have anything to do with the airfield ,What has it got to do with you .
As for "caveman" ,please chain yourself to Drax chimney straight away, stop moaning and do something useful .
GSX1295, says...
9:07am Thu 23 Nov 06
Dipsta wrote:Holy Mary, mother of God. I can't believe what I'm reading here. Speaking as someone who has now actually found something he can do "legally" and in controlled, marshalled conditions and who pays for the oportunity to do so, why is it that I should suffer the consiquenses of a group of yogurt knitting cardigan eating namby pambies who have nothing better to do than to sit in front of their radios with their pipe and slippers listening to desert island discs? What happened to reality here? You hear stories on the news of how a minority of people get decissions going their way because they don't like the way things happen. I'm getting sick and tired of these people. We have a Government that dosn't give a **** about "the people". God, I could go on and on but what's the point? As a motorcyclist, we are continually targetted and labelled as a "menace" on the roads by people like you in and near Elvington. We finally try and do "the right thing" by finding somewhere to carry out our favourite past time and STILL you manage to stick your unwelcome beak in. Here's a thought, you give us somewhere to go and do all the nessecary arrangements. OK, lets close the airport. Let's further reduce our contribution to your local environment. Let's all stop racing, no, #uck it, let's all stop doing anything. If we all had no interests and stuck to speed limits and didn't smoke and all used public transport, this Government would collapse around our ears because they would have virtually no income. Then what would you do? I know what you'd do, you'd complain about having to pay more income tax and have less pension to live on, that's what you'd do.
This is astonishing, what a bunch of whining old grannies, Why the **** would you move near an airfield if you dont like the noise? Like the majority here have said, \"if you dont like it, move!\" racers have enough to contecnd with, without losing another circuit!
Look at the bigger picture. You are an outnumbered minority who has once again got it's way because people don't like evolution.
Muppets, get a grip on reallity.
Ashley, says...
8:18pm Thu 23 Nov 06
It would be good to know exactly which street were the main protesters. Then maybe all motorsport enthusiasts can organise convoys and meets right outside their doorstop with noisy cars and bikes. Let see the council try and move us as we are law abiding road tax payers and can drive where ever we like.
slider, says...
10:10pm Thu 23 Nov 06
Dont knock over any garden gnomes tho for gods sake ,,esp the the one with the fishing rod.
Billy Jackson, says...
8:29am Mon 27 Nov 06
HM, says...
11:05am Tue 5 Dec 06
Mike, says...
11:58am Wed 6 Dec 06
Wasnt the same thing going to happen to Bruntingthorpe? The reply from them was that if they banned track days or vehical testing they would return the airfield to a airport again, surely then people would have something to moan about.
All this is just a problem of modern society.
You can sue anyone for practically anything, and moan and the PC brigade can get a court judgement against pretty much anything and the courts just grant these crazy orders as they are scared they will get done.
Absolute shite in my opinon.
Joe Farman, says...
5:17am Fri 8 Dec 06
The track days and top speed events i've been to the noise limits are very strictly adhered to and not excessive.
GJM, says...
9:41am Fri 8 Dec 06
Screaming Banshees? Absolute, complete and utter, sensationalist rubbish.
The same problems are faced by motor racing circuits. People moving into an area have managed to force a reduction in circuit usage. There is a shooting school near where I live - it is one of the oldest in the country. New houses were built about 2 miles away, and the new residents managed to reduce the school's activities to two days a week, including just one day at the weekends. Apparently the sound of gunfire was 'rattling the windows'. They also complained about the traffic outside the local school that was originally built in 1896...
The final straw in this is the insistance of the Judge that the airfield contribute £40k to the council's costs! The council (at the insistence of a few people) brought the case - they should pay for it. Or maybe they couldn't afford to do so?
Have the complainers made any constructive suggestions as to what might be done? Has there been any consultation between the airfield and the residents? I've not read of any (not that this means it hasn't happened). The earth bank is an excellent idea, and given 12 months or so could even become an attractive local feature.
I don't live in or near Elvington, but have visited there several times, both for family and motorsport-related events. I do live near a racing circuit; this circuit is being developed and expanded with the assistance of local residents. This approach works.
Ian Thomason, says...
10:50am Fri 8 Dec 06
t5nyw, says...
1:40pm Fri 8 Dec 06
Bedford auto-drome, Castle Coombe, donington and now Elvington
So were are all these "Racers" going to go when all the Circuits close?? away from a Controlled safe enviroment to............ the Public roads farrrrrrrrrr safer, I think not.
Turn it back to an Airfield and make their roof vibrate
Steve Luther, says...
2:36pm Fri 8 Dec 06
PulsarJack, says...
3:44pm Fri 8 Dec 06
In fact, I think I'll move to a nice rural beach village, and then complain about the noise the crashing waves are making. Maybe the council could spend some of my hard earned cash developing a quiet wave system such that I may live in peace.
People like these Nimby's and Amazed48 really make me sick. They should get a life, move somewhere they are left in peace (scottish highlands? or are the sheep too noisy?), and leave the decent members of the community to enjoy whatever legal past-time they choose to do.
J out.
Col, says...
9:14pm Fri 8 Dec 06
It truely is a sorry world that we are living in.
jon, says...
7:26pm Sun 10 Dec 06
Karen, says...
7:43pm Sun 10 Dec 06
Matt, says...
9:48pm Sun 10 Dec 06
Amazed48 wrote:"Just so that a few enthusiasts can appreciate useless, noisy, fuel-wasting "sports" (quite how they can be classified as sports defeats me! - get a life chaps"
MAGGIE wrote:Amazing! the vast majority of contributors ignored the
I don' think people realise that when some of the older residents in
the area came to live there, this was not a problem. Small, light
aircraft passing overhead once in a while is no trouble but continual
whining noises which travel and so affect many people for miles around
is distressing and disturbs leisure time during weekends. It is a
mainly rural area around the airfield and so moise should be kept to a
minimum.
important point made by Maggie in the third posting.
"when some of the older residents in the area came to live there, this
was not a problem. Small, light aircraft passing overhead once in a
while is no trouble but continual whining noises which travel and so
affect many people for miles around is distressing and disturbs leisure
time during weekends."
Why should these people have to move out?
Just so that a few enthusiasts can appreciate useless, noisy,
fuel-wasting "sports" (quite how they can be classified as sports
defeats me! - get a life chaps)
P.S. I don't live anywhere near Elvington, so don't call me a NIMBY!
Huh?! What?! I am not sure about you, but I think that sentence was extremely wrong and biased
A definition of sport:
"activities that are competitive, have formal rules, require physical effort and skills, and are organized within institutional structures"
www.health.qld.gov.au/npag/glossary.asp
So is Motorsport really a sport? well if it conforms to the requirements above then I guess it is
Activities that are competitive - Check
Have formal rules - Check
Require physical effort and skills - Check
(When driving in F1, there are large G forces require the drivers to have high levels of fitness and reflexes. When racing in country's such as Malaysia, the amount of fluids they lose through perspiration are enormous, so they need great physical strength to be able to drive on the limit and keep maximum concentration. Driving on the limit takes special skills under both normal and harsh conditions, thats why only a few people with a gifted talent make it into F1 and professional Motorsport
Organized within institutional structures - Check again!
I would also like express my views on your biased comments about F1
A few enthusiasts? So all the fans of Formula One, Nascar, Indy Racing etc are just a handful, just a few people are they? Well Formula One (F1) for example has hundreds of millions of fans, and quite how you call that many fans "a few" defeats me!
Fuel wasting? yea the amount of fuel used in Motorsport is a percentage of a percentage of fuel used in the world, so it's not like it makes a big difference.
You also say "get a life chaps". I would like to point out however, that F1 and MotorSPORT is watched and enjoyed by many women as well. Just because you do not like it, it does not mean that the majority of people (even if they do not watch F1 or Nascar etc) necessarily have the same views.
I hope this helps you understand, because there are lots of Motorsport and F1 fans and it is sad to see that kill joys such as yourself try to ruin it for everyone else for no reason except your hate for the motor car.
Ed Beecroft, says...
11:58pm Sun 10 Dec 06
NOT A KILL JOY, says...
12:22am Mon 11 Dec 06
NIMBY!NIMBY!NIMBY!NIMBY!NIMBY!NIMBY!NIMBY!
Personaly I COULD CALL YOU OTHER THINGS. but unlike you I have interests in life and I have not got time to spend on killjoys like you. Get a life.
Jim, says...
12:30am Mon 11 Dec 06
Thursday 23rd November
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It isn't really the elvington villagers that complain.
Its the ones that live on the wheldrake side of the village.
There is about a dozen houses close to the airfield there, they regularily d sound testing there too.
Oh and one of the residents is a councillor, another a judge. So thats why its happening
Jeff Oakley, says...
7:39am Mon 11 Dec 06
Airfields and race circuits around the country are under the same pressure from the types who complain because they have nothing better to do with their lives and see evil in all things to do with cars and motorbikes. If these people put the same effort into helping less fortunates with their undoubted intellect and verbal skills then they might have some legacy worth leaving, but to be remembered as one who spoils other peoples sport is perhaps the one the will be most proud of.
SID, says...
8:19am Mon 11 Dec 06
PLEASE UPDATE YOUR WEB SITE.
Fans and other interested people want to help you!
Craig Williams, says...
4:16pm Mon 11 Dec 06
CJ, says...
10:50pm Mon 11 Dec 06
Second day between 9am and 5.30pm the F1 car was tested for just 14 minutes during the day. There was even enough downtime for the mechanics to play a match of football and for the crew to keep fit by cycling around the airfield. To be fair to the protesters the cycles front wheel did squeak a bit because the brake was binding a little.
On the third day ( an unusually busy one by F1 aerodynamic test standards) the car ran for approx 15 runs which added up to just over an hour in total. The noise was so horrendous that within seconds of the F1 engine shutting down birds were landing on the runway were the car had just passed at 220kph.
To summarise the 3 day / 72hour F1 test session had resulted in just under 1.5 hrs of noise. For the rest of the time the area was peaceful bar the contant drone of the nearby printing works and the distant hum of the York bypass.
If I was asked the question would I sooner spend time at Elvington or time next to the main road near where I live Elvington would win hands down. I do feel that the residents should count their blessings. The real neighbours are the deer, rabbits, foxes and the whole spectrum of wildlife that co exists quite happily with the activities on the airfield. I have sat and watched unperturbed deer out in the open on the airfield whilst these so called screaming banshees have been performing less than half a mile away. Actually within distant sight of one protesters windows.
Perhaps there is a live and let live lesson we can learn from nature here.
Joe 90, says...
3:09pm Tue 12 Dec 06
Flora Day, says...
6:02pm Tue 12 Dec 06
DP wrote:seriously, were you dropped on your head as a child?
I feel sorry for the residents. Imagine one of them making similar amounts of noise in their back garden - I\'m sure they wouldn\'t be allowed to! Companies often think they can do as they please, whenever they wish to, without rules or regulations. Also, it\'s not as though most of the minority activities at Elvington seem to be useful or necessary, (e.g. from the previous contributor \"Rallying some bikes\") they appear a total waste of fuel and an unwanted addition to global warming. Let\'s close the airfield and build houses on it before a contender to Leeds- Bradford airport is proposed!
Yes, companies do get to do things that individuals don`t - that`s what makes them businesses! Really - try going into your kitchen and mass producing 17 different flavours of chocolate bars for commercial resale - it might highlight the difference to you a bit........
People have used Elvington for years, and most motorsport tends not to be boisier than massive jet engines, which seems fairly acceptable for an AIRFIELD. The site provides revenue for the local economy, a testing ground for societally useful projects, and much enjoyment for the people who do attend events.
My advice? Airfields - they tend to be a bit noisy. Try not moving in next door to one.
Huge, says...
1:54pm Wed 13 Dec 06
Martin, says...
12:28pm Thu 14 Dec 06
It's an old airfield for god's sakes, imagine what it would have been like back in the 40s and 50s before complaining to the council about noise.
Just another bunch of moany residents with nothing better to worry about, pointless waste of time.
Idiots, get a grip.
Luke Alford, says...
1:04pm Thu 14 Dec 06
Timothy Vicarey, says...
9:43pm Sat 16 Dec 06
malcolm roberts, says...
11:47pm Sun 17 Dec 06
Their may be a legal recourse against the council and/or developer. Who knows the council may be looking for reasons to close the airfield by allowing issues to get in the way. Planning policy guides are just that and it is left to planning officers to use their own discretion when looking at apps, but should not overlook the obvious. PPG`s work for both sides. Could be a legal battle comeing on.
Alant, says...
11:33am Mon 18 Dec 06
I live in Doncaster, so I can't hear any noise from Elvington, but I can hear the planes at our new Robin Hood airport - and when I bought my house the RAF base had closed down and the airport was disused, but I still have to accept that the land was there and could have been used for any number of things that could have impacted on us. What I can say though is that after years of using other airports, which would have affected other people, I now use the one that affects me. That is the price you pay !!
As for the environmentalists, unless you live in a cave eating only food caught wild or grown by yourselves then you are affecting the environment every day, so don't be so b***** hypocritical
Chris Worrall, says...
9:34am Fri 22 Dec 06
colin g, says...
4:21pm Fri 22 Dec 06
Dave, says...
6:37pm Fri 22 Dec 06
Amazed48, says...
9:30pm Sun 24 Dec 06
From the original article.
Villagers have WON a major - if not total - victory in their battle against noisy vehicle testing on an airfield near York.
I rest my case!
David Downes, says...
8:16pm Mon 25 Dec 06
I bet if your council tax was reduced your annoying narrow minded voice would quieten down!
Just be thankfull i dont live next door to you NIMBYS otherwise you would have somthing to bloody complain about.
Instead of twisting you knickers about it **** off and find a usefull cause to support like feeding the third world.
Motorsport is here to stay, get used to it or move to the arctic circle if you require silence.
Kurt Ramsden, says...
8:29pm Wed 27 Dec 06
Adding my voice to others, what can I do to help prevent this going any further? Any advice would be appreciated...
duz it mater, says...
9:56am Thu 28 Dec 06
Jason, says...
11:35am Sat 30 Dec 06
DP wrote:Get a grip, DP. People like you seem to exist purely to annoy the majority of the population. What is wrong with folk enjoying themselves? Global warming? You fool. If you knew anything about Global Warming, you would realise just how pathetic your final sentence is.
I feel sorry for the residents. Imagine one of them making similar amounts of noise in their back garden - I'm sure they wouldn't be allowed to! Companies often think they can do as they please, whenever they wish to, without rules or regulations. Also, it's not as though most of the minority activities at Elvington seem to be useful or necessary, (e.g. from the previous contributor "Rallying some bikes") they appear a total waste of fuel and an unwanted addition to global warming. Let's close the airfield and build houses on it before a contender to Leeds- Bradford airport is proposed!
Swampman, says...
5:40pm Wed 3 Jan 07
DP wrote:
I feel sorry for the residents. Imagine one of them making similar amounts of noise in their back garden - I'm sure they wouldn't be allowed to! Companies often think they can do as they please, whenever they wish to, without rules or regulations. Also, it's not as though most of the minority activities at Elvington seem to be useful or necessary, (e.g. from the previous contributor "Rallying some bikes") they appear a total waste of fuel and an unwanted addition to global warming. Let's close the airfield and build houses on it before a contender to Leeds- Bradford airport is proposed!
You might like to consider that one jet aircraft taking a team of footballers to some European venue will use more fuel than a whole year of Motorsport!
Eleanorguy, says...
1:52pm Thu 4 Jan 07
- I agree in principal that any residential properties which arrived AFTER the airfield should be DISREGARDED unless a substantial change of use has taken place; and as far as I'm aware it has ALWAYS been used for speed trials of motor vehicles in addition to being a working arifield.
- People who want to outlaw or ban other peoples democratic right to enjoy themselves in their leisure time within the law purely on the basis that the activity ie. motorsport seems pointless to them or an unnecessary use of resources or addition to gllobal warming should first petition the government to outlaw 100% of holiday flights which are far more damaging to the environment; along with the production, distribution and marketing of toys, Christmas novelties and a myriad of other 'useless,pointless and wasteful' products and activities.
- Perhaps the residents ought to consider if Elvington and the pitiful handful of venues around the country in general which support grass roots motorsports and vehicle testing were to close, how many more 'enthusiasts' including the younger, less socially conscious, would be forced back onto the public roads to pollute (noise and air)and worse still possibly maim and kill in a comparatively unregulated fashion. Maybe if there were MORE venues like Elvington, they wouldn't have to moan about all the 'boy racers' on the public roads.
Dan, says...
2:24am Fri 5 Jan 07
colin g, says...
10:19am Sun 7 Jan 07
simon baker, says...
9:11pm Wed 17 Jan 07
boris, says...
9:19pm Wed 17 Jan 07
KP, says...
4:24pm Fri 19 Jan 07
The day of the Richard Hammond accident I was at home all day and the only noise I heard was the ambulance siren around 5 o'clock and I didn't know what it was attending until I watched the news later in the evening. So how can people say the noise is unbearable?
One last thing. When I first came to live here, there were plans to turn the whole airfield into a large permanent gipsy site, or to build, and join Elvington to Heslington........
Mike, uk says...
12:11am Tue 6 Feb 07
Elvington should be unrestricted in use for its current purposes. However how much (they spent 40k legal costs) of an earth bank could you ramp up and plant with scrub and trees to absorb the sound?
Mike, uk says...
12:27am Tue 6 Feb 07
Far from seeking to limit the events, it would financially benifit the local economy to encorage more events at Elvinton Air Field
neil, lancaster says...
5:31pm Tue 6 Feb 07
mick walker, hornsea says...
2:23pm Wed 7 Feb 07
stuart rawlinson, telford says...
10:02pm Wed 7 Feb 07
pete, york says...
10:44pm Thu 1 Mar 07
Why do people in this country only think about themselves ?.I do not like hunting or football but do I complain when I get struck behind the hunt NO becasue you Live and Letlive Soon the uk will be one big retirement home !!!!.
Hedley Thorne, Didcot says...
10:43pm Wed 25 Apr 07
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Yorkie, says...
6:47pm Sat 18 Nov 06