Cancel Mansell.

The proposal to build a racetrack in the beautiful Blackdowns has local residents out in force.

Over 700 villagers turned out on a damp afternoon in late July to protest against plans for a racetrack development put forward by sports celebrity Nigel Mansell. In 2005, Mr Mansell made an application to East Devon County Council to extensively develop the makeshift kart track that already exists outside the small village of Dunkeswell. The village lies in the Blackdown Hills, directly within a nationally designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The plans are to widen the kart tracks (work which has already been completed), build a 250-seat restaurant and construct workshops for Formula 3 and Formula BMW racing cars. Locals are concerned that in time the site will become the new Brands Hatch.

The basis of the objection concerns the destruction of peace and tranquillity within the AONB. The new development plans to have racing seven days a week from 9am to 9pm with floodlighting, tannoys and viewing platforms. This is very different from the current consent that allows only nine racing days a year. Even under existing conditions, a noise nuisance order has recently been served on the site. Both the Council and local experts agree that the noise is unacceptable despite the barrier that’s recently been erected. “People in our village have to leave their houses for nine Sundays a year” said Peter Adams, a resident of nearby Sheldon. “If you want to get any peace and quiet, you don’t get it here on race day.” Apart from the noise, locals are worried about the increase in road traffic on narrow country lanes. “The proposal is appalling,” said Robert Tailyour of Culmstock. “The roads are dangerous enough without the excess traffic going through. I suggest that this hasn’t been well thought out. It is creeping urbanisation of a rural area that doesn’t deserve it”.

The march, which was made up of people from all 26 villages likely to be affected, was also joined by groups such as the Green Party and the Rambling Association. “If they get away with it here it will set a precedent for other areas” said Eileen Linfoot from the Devon Ramblers. “Will they try this on the Moors next? Although it looks like there are no houses here, it will be very intrusive. What’s the point of having an AONB if there’s no protection? We are objecting”. There were also a handful of pro-Mansell demonstrators who argued that the development will bring money and jobs into an area that is in need of regeneration, showing that as ever there are two sides to the development debate.

“I am just trying to see the bigger picture,” said Michael Emmett, a marcher brandishing a global warming banner. “Motor-racing is a dinosaur – it’s a very out of date proposal. The concept of burning fuel just for fun has got to change. We’ve only got one planet in the end – unless of course Mr Mansell knows of somewhere else”. The decision-making process will continue into the Autumn but this looks set to become a high-profile and emotive issue if the plan continues. “At least this has sent a message to East Devon District Council” said the campaign organiser Fiona Cathcart. “If this many people in the Blackdowns don’t want it, it shouldn’t come. This is a democracy. However, what it has done is really create a community. Before we were just separate villages but now we’re all part of a network. I’m sure that whatever happens we will help each other out in the future”.

Kirstie Allsop from BBC’s Location, Location is also involved in the campaign but gave birth the day before the march so couldn’t attend.

For more information about the Cancel Mansell campaign see www.cancelmansell.com