Highbridge’s Oaktree Arena has been given a ‘huge boost’ this week after being given the go-ahead to hold international speedway fixtures despite objections from local residents.
Restrictions on when speedway fixtures can be held at the track, which are in place to protect local residents from noise, are being relaxed by Sedgemoor District Council following an application from the track’s owners.
Bill Hancock, right, applied for a change to the restrictions to allow one Saturday fixture a year to be held for a national or international fixture.
Councillors on Sedgemoor’s Development Committee have just voted in fabour of allowing the change despite nine letters of objection from nearby residents amid concerns about noise disprution, and two letters of support.
Mr Hancock told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “This decision is really good news for speedway and the whole area – it will help us to attract high-profile international speedway fixtures here, thereby bringing more tourists and visitors into the Burnham area.”
“We have been approached several times in the past about hosting national and international speedway fixtures but have always had to turn them down because the restrictions were in place, now that’s changed we can move forward.”
The revised permission comes with 14 conditions and will also allows a two-hour practice period on the morning of the extra Saturday race. The track is able to hold a maximum of 30 speedway meetings a year in order to minimise the impact on residents – and that the number is not changing.
The action is likely to include international fixtures following this week’s decision
Sky Sports broadcast a live speedway fixture from the track over the summer
