Photo source: Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
The Belgian government has suspended the operating license of the Spa-Francorchamps circuit for 17 years. Spa is, of course, the site of Formula One's Belgian Grand Prix.
The suspension is the result of a 2007 noise complaint from local residents. Spa's management were subsequently ordered to conduct an environmental impact study. The Belgian Council of State deemed their efforts in this regard "seriously inadequate and incomplete" and suspended the track's license until 2026.
Spa claims it has worked with residents to manage noise from the track since the 2007 complaint and is expected to challenge the ruling. For its part, the residents' group says it never wanted the racetrack to close down -- just a reduction in noise levels.
For now, though, upcoming track events scheduled here are potentially in jeopardy, particularly the Belgian GP, which reportedly was also shouldered with a loss of over $4 million for the 2009 race.
altimadude00 says:
10:24 AM, 09/23/09
You can't live next to a race track and expect it NOT to be noisy. Duh!
Maybe the pit crews are supposed to push their cars around the track for 50 laps?
stovt001 says:
11:06 AM, 09/23/09
I'll bet you anything the track has been there longer than the vast majority of residents. Its not like they didn't know they'd be living near a racetrack when they moved in. I saw the same thing happen with the airport near the house I grew up in. The airport was there since at least the 1920s. The neighbors, not so much, yet they seemed shocked years later to discover that yes, indeed, they had moved in next to an airport, and threw a big stink. For my part, after I moved out to go to college I found it weird to not hear airplanes at night.
firstwagon says:
11:13 AM, 09/23/09
I just looked it up. The track has been there since 1920 and hosted it's first race in 1922.
Anyone who lives within earshot knew it was there when they bought their property. Even if there are a few around old enough to remember it being built, they have been living with it for 89 years so it hasn't bothered them much.
Thus it should be grandfathered in just like airports and freeways.
You knew it was there...live with it or move.
rick8365 says:
11:21 AM, 09/23/09
Agreed ..... this is not the first time for this crap, at least here in the US - a ridiculous trend.
I look forward to the day (that I hope, pray and believe will come) that the pendulum swings the other way and people's internal compass is governed by right is right and wrong is wrong. And, that personal responsibility and rule of law are paramount.
compliance says:
01:55 PM, 09/23/09
It's funny that they screwed themselves out of all the money for the town that the GP brings in. People are dumb.
e10rice says:
02:19 PM, 09/23/09
This sounds just like whats happening in my area where people are complaining about jet noise from the Naval Air Station that was there before anyone moved around it. Now its like every year you hear about how our area might lose the jet fighters and basically all the money that comes our way because of the it. Stop complaining you weren't there first. Hell you should be glade that you have one of the best F1 tracks in the world!
darkman_xxl says:
03:23 PM, 09/23/09
As someone who was stationed about 20 mins from this track, at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, and having drove over it many times on my way to Holland when it was an open public road, I can say it would be a shame for them to close it down. I acn also say there are families and old money that have been in the region for years, probably well before this track was built. I don't know how far back the complaints go, but it seems like a political thing to me.
estreka says:
03:35 PM, 09/23/09
That's like buying a house on a golf course and complaining about broken windows all day.
cwc1 says:
05:51 PM, 09/23/09
More of this crap will be starting in the U.S. as well, unless a whole lot more people wake up.
actualsize says:
06:09 PM, 09/23/09
@estreka: I did that once. I didn't complain, I moved. I had no idea how MANY there would be.
cb_racer says:
06:08 AM, 09/24/09
@compliance
You are absolutely right. They will loose the money and to compensate they will have to pay more taxes...them they will miss the noise making money.
What's wrong with earplugs anyways???
iskch says:
08:51 AM, 09/24/09
Even people complain about bird noises! They need an underground house!
zoomzoomn says:
09:25 AM, 09/24/09
I agree with the other comments herein. Most of the current population in the areas surrounding the track have lived/bought/built there since the track has existed. It's like when developers put in a new housing subdivision right next to a busy highway and then the taxpayers footing the bill some years later to resurrect a sound barrier. Unbelievable!