by Dee Adcock - Dorset Echo

Weymouth Wildcats have got the green light for practice speedway sessions during the winter. But the consent for one Saturday afternoon session a month during the closed season left Wildcats bosses only half happy - they had asked West Dorset District Council planners for double that.

Members of the council's development control committee voted in favour of a proposal to vary a condition in the permission granted in November 2006 for speedway at the Wessex Stadium off Radipole Lane, Weymouth. Conditions allowed only for race nights on Fridays or Saturdays during the speedway season to minimise noise impact on neighbours. But Weymouth Wildcats Ltd returned to planners to ask to be allowed to hold winter training and practice sessions as well. Planning officer Andrew Martin recommended approval for temporary consent allowing one Saturday afternoon session a month between November 1 and March 14.

Agent John Roberts asked the committee to allow two Saturdays a month. He said the sessions would be limited by the weather and by avoiding Saturdays earmarked for home Weymouth Football Club home matches at the stadium. He said: "You have embraced the Olympic challenge - please give support to our speedway riders."

The application had sparked objections on grounds of noise nuisance. Angela and Jonathan Bennett of Bennetts Water Gardens - approximately 400 metres from the track - told councillors that the noise would be detrimental to their business as a haven for visitors and a setting for civil weddings.

Mr Martin said: "Given that there is permanent permission for speedway racing at the Wessex Stadium it is understandable that the operators want to have practice and training sessions." He said conditions included one that sessions would be supervised by a machine operator licensed by the Speedway Control Board and another that the public address system is used only for safety announcements and not for music or commentary. Mr Martin said noise levels would be monitored and the data used for any future application.

After the meeting Wildcats chairman Phil Bartlett said he was pleased to have the consent but was disappointed it was not for twice the number of sessions. He said: "It goes half way. But if we want any more we would have to put in another application."