Plans approved for Folkestone Academy’s bike track despite noise fears

Plans for a new BMX and mountain bike track at a school have been approved, despite residents fearing it will be like “living next to a motorway”.

Folkestone Academy submitted the plans in January 2024 to build the facility on an underutilised section of its campus close to the back gardens of houses in Grasmere Gardens.

The £150,000 project includes a 480-metre trail split into two loops and a free-flowing area with jumps and obstacles.

It was approved by Folkestone and Hythe District Council this month – having been originally rejected last year.

Previously, neighbours KentOnline spoke to claimed their lives will be blighted by noisy bikes, even comparing the potential noise to having a motorway behind their homes.

Kevin Black, who has lived in Grasmere Gardens for 20 years, told KentOnline: “I don’t think the impact on the community has been considered - it really is the wrong area for it.

“You might as well build a motorway back there with all the noise it’ll create.”

In addition, 23 letters of objection were submitted to FHDC’s planning portal, with zero in support.

Keshia Price commented: “This will overlook into our garden where our young children play.

“It’s in very close proximity to our premises and will be noisy with people out of school hours.

“Children already come up to our fence. I’m concerned for the safety of my children and the extra noise and disturbance it may bring.”

Yet officers at the local authority approved the scheme following the submission of an acoustic assessment, which failed to show a drastic impact on neighbouring properties.

Their report stated: “The use of an additional small-scale facility on site is not considered to exacerbate noise and disturbances above and beyond the existing circumstances.

“The proposed bike trail would be relatively small scale and would not unacceptably alter the character and appearance of this part of the site to such a degree as to render the development unacceptable.

“It would utilise an area of the school field that is not currently used, and it is accepted that bringing this facility in closer proximity to the rear of neighbouring properties changes the current circumstances for these residents.

“However, this area can already be used for school-related activities, and whilst the bike track provides a specific purpose for this underused area of the school field, it is not considered to be of significant scale.”

It was also noted that a condition will be imposed limiting the use of the facility to push bikes.

Outside term time, the track will be open from 8am to 8pm, allowing bookable slots for members of the community outside of its use by primary and secondary school pupils in supervised sessions during the school calendar.

The facility will also be available from 9am to 2pm at weekends and bank holidays.

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Folkestone Academy, which is overseen by the Turner School Trust, is also now home to a skate park.

The principal, Steven Shaw, previously said he hopes that with the sport’s growing popularity, a future world champion could come from the town.

Turner Schools Trust has been approached for comment.