MOTOCROSS near Eaglescliffe

Written by Alan Lewis and published in Darlington and Stockton Times 5th January 2007 on Fri 5th Jan 2007

In common with hundreds of other Eaglescliffe residents, I can hear the noise from the motocross track near Eaglescliffe, otherwise known as Riverside Lodge. Dozens of people have complained to the Council that they can no longer enjoy being out of doors while the track is operating on many days of the week over much of the year. The operator says that he "aims to educate people living nearby" and "wants to come to a mutual agreement with residents", but we have still to hear from him.

He is quoted as saying that "the site has a certificate of lawfulness", but his application for one was turned down by Stockton Council Planning Committee, because statements by the previous owner were inconsistent with it. An appeal against this refusal was withdrawn in 2006.

How the present operator spends £19,000 on Planning matters is between him and his professional advisers. So far as local people are concerned, we have had to put up with the noise more often in the last two years from a bike track which has never had planning permission while he and his advisers have put in a succession of applications, all either withdrawn or turned down. It seems from the news item that we will be encountering yet another one.

Readers of the Darlington and Stockton Times often write about respect for the law; there are times when Planning law ties the hands behind the backs of those who want it enforcing!