Judge blamed district council

The recent court judgement lifting the noise abatement order served by East Devon District Council on the kart circuit at Dunkeswell will sadden anyone who has a regard for the Blackdown Hills AONB. The owners of the circuit can now operate with no effective constraint on the noise they create.The judge laid the blame for this outcome squarely at the district council's door. The efforts of the environmental control officers to have reasonable noise limits put in place were undermined from the outset by the lack of strategic thinking elsewhere in the council, and especially within the planning department. The judge effectively said that since planning permission had been granted by EDDC to extend the circuit and to permit greater opportunities for karting, the same council could not now expect to impose restrictions on the circuit's owners.Whatever one may feel about this particular ruling, it points to a lack of joined-up thinking within the council. EDDC spent tax payers' money in an effort in the High Court to frustrate the Boundary Committee's examination of the best option for local government in the West Country. More money is now to be spent on an appeal against the judgement that the commission should proceed. Instead of co-operating with the review, EDDC rejects any suggestion that a change to the status quo should be considered. Those who think that EDDC is not fit for purpose should make that opinion plain.Peter JohnLinden ParkDunkeswell