As many of you know we have been working on setting up QuantyaparX in the UK. This is an exciting concept which would create a chain of eco friendly and fun business’. Exactly what the UK needs right now. However we have encountered some stumbling blocks just as we were ready to really move forward with our first park in Kinver, Staffordshire. The parks would operate much like a go karting track, or quad trekking centre where they take bookings over the phone for groups, stag partys and corporate entertainment. There would only have been a small number of people around at any one time.
As is often the case – the press made uneducated and sensationalist articles condemning the project. You can see some of the comments the local newspaper the Express and Star and more from the Stourbridge News.
The main complaints from the public were regarding noise – the track was compared to a full scale motocross event that was held a few years ago. The locals were concerned the bikes would disrupt the peace and quiet of the surrounding countryside. Obviously this is totally misguided as the bikes create no noise. They do not pollute either.
The planning permission was then refused on the basis of access. They were worried about the country roads dealing with a large increase in the traffic volume. Obviously with only group bookings and hired electric bikes to be allowed on the track this strictly limits the number of cars coming each day. This should cause little to no impact on local roads and residents near Beacon Lane and roads in or near Kinver.
We are asking everyone who wishes to support the local track to fill in our petition in order to help us appeal against the planning authority.
If you have bikes available, may I suggest you run a demo day with free BBQ, and have a dB meter in hand. Even have a petrol bike for comparison (be careful how you manage this as it could have the wrong effect if people still don’t ‘get it’).
You should invite all the people with noise concerns, the local council, the people responsible for the decision, local tourism sales people (hotel and B&B proprietors) and of course the media. It doesn’t have to be expensive, you just have to engage the locals face to face and embrace their concerns. You could even try and get Robert Llewellyn involved as he is a HUGE supporter of EVs.
I think the petition should be a last resort. you want to avoid, not stimulate confrontation with the locals.
On the traffic management side, I trust you have done or had an analysis on traffic impact. Number of customers / day, hours etc.
Also sell it as the first of its kind in Europe / world. Quiet clean green. You could get testimonials from the neighbors of electric cart tracks on the noise impact.
Anyway, you have probably already considered these options bit I just wanted give some ideas.
Regards, Mal.