Consideration was given to awarding 1066 Racing a five-year non-secure full repairing and maintenance lease for a peppercorn rent of £1 per annum to enable 1066 Racing to hold regular club meetings and occasional larger events on land at St Mary’s Recreation Ground, Bexhill-on-Sea.  A taster event had been held in August last year which had been successful with no adverse comments being received from the neighbourhood.  The racing cars were electric 1/10th scale radio-controlled which generated very little noise and zero emissions.  1066 Racing had no intention of racing internal combustion model cars and this would be stipulated in the lease, if granted. 

The site at St. Mary’s Recreation Ground was considered suitable for the required facilities, consisting of a small astro-turf track within a fenced area no bigger than 40 meters by 40 meters along, with a rostrum and a designated area for parking.  It was considered that the loss of this small section of land would have no significant impact on the recreational value of the site to other users.

The introduction of a radio-controlled car racing track at St. Mary’s Recreation Ground would increase the use and enjoyment of this under-utilised public open space to residents across Rother, but particularly those in Bexhill at no additional cost to the Council and without detriment to the possibility of a cricket facility being accommodated at the site in the future.  1066 Racing was made up of a diverse group of enthusiasts from all age ranges and backgrounds and would provide an additional activity for residents to enjoy and participate.

Cabinet was pleased to approve that officers proceed with disposing of the small area of public open space within the recreation ground for use as a racing track, in accordance with the provisions of Section 123(2A) of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended), with all associated costs to be met by 1066 Racing.  It was noted that whilst the site was subject to a Fields in Trust (FiT) ‘Deed of Dedication’ under the QEII Playing Fields scheme, the proposed short-term lease did not require consent from FiT’s Land and Planning Committee and that there was no reason why the proposed track should not be permitted when the Heads of Terms are formally submitted for approval.

RESOLVED: That:

1)    by virtue of Section 123(2A) of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended), the Council gives formal notice of its intention to dispose of a small parcel of land at St. Mary’s Recreation Ground as public open space;  

2)    subject to the above, a lease of five years term at a peppercorn rent of £1 per annum be granted to 1066 Racing for land on which to construct and operate a radio-controlled racing car track at the club’s own cost with other terms and conditions to the satisfaction of the Chief Executive; and

3)    to grant a licence to the club allowing a designated area of the Recreation Ground to be used for parking at specified times in connection with the permitted activity.