March 17 - Planners delay decision on Airsoft Skirmish Centre [AKA the Nanny State rears its hideous face]

PLANNING chiefs have delayed the decision on controversial plans for a war games centre in Marchington amid concerns over noise from the site.
East Staffordshire Borough Council’s planning committee referred the decision for an Airsoft Skirmish Centre, on land off Stubby Road, to its next meeting despite recommendations from officers to conditionally accept the plans.
Objections were raised by Barbara Marshall who represented 12 homes in Deepcut Road, Draycott in the Clay.
She said: “We are informed that noise levels will be no higher than 70 decibels per single shot or explosion.
“However, the World Health Organisation recommends that sound levels for community noise be no higher than 50 or 55 decibels to adequately protect persons from being adversely affected “All year round there is livestock grazing next to the barracks, which are only separated by wire fencing.
“These cattle are likely to be traumatised by the noise emanating from these games and any detriment to these animals may result in recompense being sought.” Gillian Peto raised objections on behalf of her 28 residents in Poplars Park.
She said: “We have a chainsaw that runs at 65 decibels and it would be unacceptable for this to be running all day. We are told that 70 decibels explosions are what we should expect and accept.
“However, I contend that shots and explosions are much less acceptable than a chainsaw by their very character.
“I do not know how many people here have been shot at but I have while on tour lecturing in Nigeria during the Biafra civil war.
“Also some of my residents fought in the Second World War and do not wish to be reminded.” An Airsoft Skirmish representative, who asked not to be named, said that the building has been a magnet for travellers and anti-social behaviour for 20 years and had been subjected to arson attacks.
He said organisers had spoken with residents and the parish council before finalising the plans and have taken on their concerns over the noise and pyrotechnics.
“This is a professional business with core values which could turn around a derelict site,” he said.
“Being a local business it will hire local people.
It does not involve a lot of noise.” The officers recommended permitting the plans providing that Natural England and the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust had no objections.
Other conditions included restrictions on when gaming can take place, noise, how many people can participate in any game and the areas in which gaming can take place.
However, councillors expressed concern over the noise levels of people taking part in the games, saying it was difficult to predict the impact of the decibels so it was put forward by Councillor Robert Hardwick for a formal noise assessment to be undertaken.
Councillor David Brookes said that he had watched the site decline and would encourage redevelopment of it but this application would allow the area to be degraded further.
“I think we should go back to the drawing board and find a better use for the land,” he said.