Extended kart track hours at 48 Cookstown Road, Moneymore

What was proposed

The application sought to change the kart track’s condition so it could operate later on weekdays and at different hours at weekends.

“LA09/2024/0066/F Recommendation: Refuse Target Date: May 2024 Proposal: Proposed variation of Condition 2 of Planning Approval I/2000/0565/F to vary the hours of operation to read - The Kart Track shall not operate between the hours of 10pm to 10am Monday to Friday and between the hours of 6pm to 9am Saturday and Sunday. (a copy of PP for I/2000/0565/F is available under this application) Location: Cookstown Road Moneymore…”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The established kart track lies beside a rural property near Moneymore, next to the A29, with access from Coltrim Lane.

“Characteristics of the Site and Area The application site is located adjacent to 48 Cookstown Road, Moneymore which a long- established kart track known as Railway Karting which was approved under a historic…”

Officer report

Environmental health concerns

Environmental Health requested clarification on three points in the assessment, but the requested information was not supplied.

“Environmental Health responded on 16th January 2025 to state they required further clarification on this assessment with 3 points listed for clarification. This information was requested from the agent on 10th February 2025 and the 29th May 2025 but was not forthcoming. Accordingly the application was presented to Members on the 1st July 2025 with a recommendation to refuse.”

Officer report

What the agent said

The agent said the noise concerns related to pit bikes, which he said were no longer part of the relevant proposal, and that the assessment raised no issue.

Members considered the information

Officers said the clarification remained necessary, while members discussed confusion between the proposed karts, electric bikes and the application description.

“The HLP said that from her understanding and having looked at other histories on the site, we have the original approval which had the opening hours and the types of karts that were approved and conditions that it should only be those karts unless otherwise agreed in writing with the Department at that time. An application was received to vary the karts which has been withdrawn and another application to vary the karts which were still under consideration.”

“The Chair said that this was mostly down to a technicality and nothing major and proposed to defer the application until the correct information was submitted. He said that if the decision was made to downgrade to electric bikes, surely that this should be beneficial to this application.”

Minutes

The committee deferred the application

The committee resolved to defer the application so further information could be provided.

“Resolved That planning application LA09/2024/0066/F be deferred to allow information to be provided.”

Minutes