Residents were given the opportunity to question Roger Le Maistre, a director of Creepy Valley Adventure Centre, who wants to create the track on green zone land opposite the motocross circuit on St John’s headland.
Mr Le Maistre’s scheme has the support of Visit Jersey, the CI Travel Group, pub group Randalls and several States departments, but the Constable of St John, Chris Taylor, and a number of residents are against the idea.
Mr Le Maistre, who would receive £49,000 from the Tourism Development Fund if the plans are given the go-ahead, was questioned about the location he had chosen, and also fielded questions about noise.
He said that he had looked at more than 30 sites to try to find the right location for the project and the company had chosen quieter buggies, with four-stroke ‘super-silent’ engines.
‘We have made sure that the buggies are as quiet as they can be,’ he said.
‘Environmental Health have said that there is no nuisance.’
However, Mr Le Maistre was criticised for his plans to use agricultural land for a commercial venture.
John Renouf, a resident of St John, said: ‘I am against the use of this agricultural land for a commercial scheme which has nothing to do with agriculture.
‘It is desecrating land.’
Parishioner Hilary Morris said that she had no issues with the current motorcross activities, but said that she did not want the green zone to be used for the buggy track.
Constable Mr Taylor, who chaired the meeting, said: ‘It is clear that we all want this venture to succeed, but not here in St John.
‘I am someone who will not wash his hands of this.
‘I will assist Mr Le Maistre in the search for somewhere for this, but it will not be in this parish.’
‘It is going to be a nuisance and we have to live with it. I am fine with what they are doing at the moment but I do not believe that there is not any other parish that can accommodate this.’
‘A building that is on site for five years is not temporary. Once you are established, you are here for good.’
‘In an area that already has existing motor sports, is it not somewhat arrogant to have chosen the site near Sorel Point?’
‘It would be better where there are far fewer people. When everything is quiet, that is the one time you do hear sound. I can hear the debating from inside this parish hall when I’m inside my home.’
Here’s how you responded on the JEP Facebook page last month:
Andy Jay: At least these plans aren’t trying to take away access to a coastal viewpoint like the kart club wanted to! I’m all in favour of anything that gives people more to do, so this gets a thumbs up from me. Only NIMBYs would vote against this, surely?
Philip Johnson: Great idea! Investment in tourism and leisure that is much needed. A pity its using portacabins for the reception, a granite cottage style building would be better.
Melanie Luce: I’d like to see a full kart track with offroad alongside in one motorsport centre. The States still have to fulfil their promise to replace the track they took for housing twenty years ago
Loraine Stewart Scott: Actually, the NIMBYs are all the people who DON’T live in this area! Be warned everyone, if these plans get passed, it means that anyone could potentially set up a COMMERCIAL activity, running all day, every day, right near YOU!
Sarah Waymouth: What a waste of land and money, why do we want one? People who want that type of sport can go to UK or France, far more fun and speed
Tracy Vibert: Yes , if it’s managed properly and it gives employment to local firms and people, we have to move with the times it’s the not on our patch attitude that stops the island from progressing
Graeme Butcher: I am extremely concerned if this get the go ahead. Yes I do live in St John but nowhere near this, I live close to the church, and yet we can hear the scramblers when they are in action we also can hear the Go Karts when they are in action.
Paul Smith: Great idea. Four stroke buggies can be/are very quiet and with the right noise abatement and land management measures as proposed the environmental impact will be minimal.
Paul J Bentley: Great idea. We need facilities. Four strokes and electric karts will produce very low levels of noise. A lot less than cars passing people’s houses routinely.
John Renouf: I think that this a a very bad scheme,it destroys good,early,productive agricultural land and impacts badly on the environment.
Tracy Vibert: Great news something for the locals and the tourists alike move with the times jobs revenue.
