CHIPPENHAM NEWS: A LEGAL battle to overturn a noise restriction on racing at Castle Combe circuit began on Wednesday.

The circuit is appealing against North Wiltshire District Council's noise abatement order imposed earlier this year.

The order means Castle Combe cannot host the annual Formula 3 and British GT super saloon championship weekend, which attracts 25,000 visitors.

Racetrack owner Howard Strawford was flanked by legal consultant Martin Chick and barrister Rupert Warren to launch their appeal at Chippenham magistrates' court on Wednesday.

The court heard the trial would surround technical matters relating to decibel levels. If the appeal against the noise abatement order fails the circuit would lose its two most lucrative race days.

Mr Warren said: "The 114 dBA requirement is a level that is restrictive and runs into difficulties of practicalities and necessities.

"We are going to specify in some detail that a stop date for two days, which we disagree with, is unnecessary and unreasonable."

The district council's barrister Simon Taylor agreed with directions set for the appeal hearing.

Judge Simon Cooper adjourned the case for a pre-trial review on July 4 ahead of a two-day trial set for July 20 and 21.

Legal teams from the racetrack and the council are both expected to call three witnesses each to the appeal hearing.

The district council imposed the noise abatement order earlier this year after complaints from villagers in Castle Combe and Yatton Keynell.

On Tuesday at North Wiltshire District Council's full council meeting, a motion to overturn the noise order was deferred.

The motion submitted by Castle Combe's district councillor Richard Watkins called for the council to reconsider the order to protect the region's tourism industry, save local jobs and allow the enjoyment for 25,000 visitors.

The motion will now be discussed at a meeting of the executive on May 12.

Since the noise abatement order was imposed, hundreds of angry race fans have flooded district councillors with e-mails.

The circuit will host Formula 3 this summer and has pledged to keep noise below 114dBA, but the ban does not come into force until after this year's event.