A family farm near Wotton-under-Edge is hoping planners will back a bid to convert part of its barn complex into a school for dirt bikers.

In a bid to diversify, Martin Kingston, who farms land on the Cotswold escarpment with his father Alfred, has applied for change of a barn's use from agricultural to use as an indoor motorcycle track at Howley Farm. The circuit would feature straights, bumps and jumps in its design.

Howley Farm borders Stumpwell Lane, a connecting road located between Bradley Green and the B4060 Wotton to North Nibley road.

If approved, a 777 square meter barn would see interior modifications to provide an all-weather training race track. The bid adds that proposed hours, from 9.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday and 10.30am to 4.30pm on Sundays and Bank Holidays), would sustain employment for two people plus a part-time role.

A noise impact assessment, submitted by London-based ES Acoustics, told Stroud District Council planners that the project would sit in a large existing barn.

The report said: "The closest noise sensitive receiver is located to the northeast, approximately 80m from the barn in question. The noise profile of the area is dominated by low-level road traffic noise from surrounding roads, and noise associated with the rural area such as farm machinery. In particular, the farmyard proposed for the motocross track houses a number of tractors, trailers and ancillary equipment.

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Design would allow for up to 10 petrol bikes in operation at a time, SDC has been told, while proposed noise mitigation would ensure "no bikes are to start, idle, or operate in any location outside of the barn".

The barn's main entrance door would be closed when possible, utilising other means of ventilation "where possible".

The report concluded: "potential noise impact has been assessed against IEMA guidelines, and it has been found that the site is unlikely to have any adverse impact on the amenity of the closest noise sensitive receivers. Furthermore, noise levels would be anticipated to fall below the levels expected to create annoyance according to WHO guidelines."

However, the bid has already triggered a local objection from a nearby resident who rides in the area.

The un-named objector said: "As a pony owner at a local livery yard I am very concerned about the proposal to turn this agricultural barn into an indoor motocross track. The barn had already been used for this purpose in the lead up to this application and has caused a great deal of distress to both my own ponies and ponies in adjacent fields.

"I dread to think what upset it will cause when trying to hack past said barn with ponies and small children riding and how dangerous this could be."

The rider also claimed that noise assessment had been carried out with just one motorcross bike.

They added: "The noise level heard has been considerably more than one bike and is very loud and distressing to the ponies. And does indeed travel. It is also unpleasant to listen to and would cause "adverse impact on quality of life"."

● SDC has asked North Nibley Parish Council for its views, with a deadline of February 13th.