RESIDENTS who campaigned against “noisy” motorbike racing on their doorstep have claimed victory after the landowner withdrew a planning bid at the 11th hour.

The application by Brian Bennett for retrospective permission for two racetracks at Yorkley Court Farm in Yorkley was due to be considered by Forest councillors last night (Tuesday, May 8).

But it was withdrawn after hundreds of residents protested to planners about having their peace wrecked by “upwards of 100” motocross competitors riding on the land.

Two petitions against the scheme attracted 641 signatures, while the council received 312 representations from people opposed to it.

A report from Forest planning officer Tony Pope recommending refusal said the motocross noise would cause “significant harm” to people living nearby, while the tracks damaged the “character, tranquillity, appearance and landscape of the surrounding area.”

Other issues included “unacceptable harm” to the local heritage, including the Grade II-listed Yorkley Court farmhouse itself, safety fears over mine workings on the land and the effect on wildlife and ecology.

Yorkley Court Farm has made headlines for several years, with a group of “eco-farmers” occupying and barricading the site until being evicted in 2016, at a cost of £150,000 to the council and the landowner.

Last year, enforcement notices were issued to stop the use of the site for motorbike racing and to remove building works carried out without permission on the Grade II-listed 17th Century farmhouse and surrounding land.

Objectors, who included Gloucestershire County, West Dean Parish and Lydney Town councils, also raised concerns over access off a bend with a 60mph limit on Lydney Road, air pollution, traffic and public footpath concerns.

Protestors Peter and Dawn Large, of Corner House, Yorkley Wood Road,

said residents have been subjected to “horrendous noise” from the “illegal racetracks”.

Thanking all those who fought the scheme, Dawn Large said: “From those that signed the petition, those that raised objections and those that attended meetings, thanks to you all, you made a difference.”

She added: “This sport is just too noisy for this area, the hundreds of residents who have written and objected cannot be wrong. 

“We can find no tracks with planning permission that are so close to hundreds of residential dwellings.

“Generally these tracks are located next to motorways, busy A roads or industrial estates which all have high ambient noise.”

The Larges thanked Mr Bennett for withdrawing the scheme and saving residents the need to take time off work to attend the planning meeting.

They also singled out Forest councillors Paul Hiett (Bream, Forest First) and Alan Grant (Pillowell, UKIP), West Dean Parish Council, parish councillor Sharon Freeman, Gloucestershire county councillor Richard Boyles, and planning officer Tony Pope for their work.

Forest businessman Mr Bennett had submitted a ‘retrospective’ application for racetrack use on 42 days a year on weekends and Bank Holidays between 9am and 6pm from March to October.

His agent Hunter Page Planning said noise tests showed no significant disturbance from the bikes and no specific mitigation measures were needed.

The scheme was backed by the British Schoolboy Motorcycle Association, and 47 representations supporting the plan included claims that the tracks offered an “excellent opportunity” for youngsters and their families to ride in a safe and controlled manner.

The north track has been used for 14 events a year with competitors in seven groups, which each has three races, and up to 40 motorcycles per race.

The south track has 28 events with the seven groups and 10 motorbikes in each of the three races for the group.

Withdrawing the application, planning agent James Griffin told the council: “I have been instructed to withdraw the current application.

“I am mindful of the enforcement notice relating to the development and have asked my client to confirm his intentions in this respect.”

The council has now referred the case back to its enforcement team.