A council has vowed to thwart attempts to reopen an illegal race track concealed by trees inside a massive roundabout.
Plans have reemerged for a former illicit racecourse hidden in Ashford’s Cloverleaf roundabout to be turned into a motocross venue.
Roundabout
Social media account Pure Ashford MX recently revealed they will even offer a children’s circuit alongside its current track.
Those behind the profile also claimed to have stumped up a significant sum on drainage pipes to prevent flooding, with the area located next to Ruckinge Dyke.
It comes after Ashford Borough Council (ABC) twice reprimanded a previous organiser for holding unlawful events at the site, situated where the A2042 meets the A2070.
In a social media post seen by KentOnline, Pure, which uses an image of the Cloverleaf as its profile picture, said: “We’ve been busy down at the track sorting out the very famous ‘flood issue’.
”We’ve found that the river that runs through our track has been blocked (for some time) which has resulted in the surrounding land to become swamped.
“We’ve opened it back up and the water is now flowing again.
“Some very expensive (and very big) drainage pipes are being ordered.
“Fingers crossed all goes well then [in] a few more weeks we will be open for you.”
The organiser of motorcross racing on the Cloverleaf roundabout in Ashford has been fined over nuisance. Picture: Google Street View
The page posted again on December 8, said: “[A] few more weeks and we will be open.”
However, it is understood no permission from ABC has been granted for any of this activity – and the authority says it will continue to oppose any efforts.
The council says vehicle access to the site is physically restricted to prevent any unauthorised access or use of the land.
Speaking on Friday (January 3), an ABC spokesman said: “We will continue to monitor the site at the Cloverleaf roundabout and if we become aware of any further unauthorised use of the land we will not hesitate to take action against those responsible.”
Previous attempts to host races and rallies on the land have seen two successful prosecutions since the pandemic.
A man was fined twice in seven months and accused of showing “complete contempt” for the community after flouting orders telling him to stop the events.
Between March and September 2021, the community safety unit at ABC received nearly 70 complaints from the public reporting that noise was continuing throughout the day, mainly at weekends and on public holidays.
Pure Ashford MX has been contacted for comment.
It comes as the Environment Agency and Kent County Council continue to investigate the site over allegations of illegal dumping.
The land was being used as a waste site following the closure of Hoad’s Wood, the beauty spot-turned-wasteland in Bethersden Road, however, the authorities have since stepped in.
An Environment Agency spokesperson said: “Our partnership investigation with Kent County Council and Ashford Borough Council into alleged illegal waste dumping activity at the Cloverleaf site is ongoing.
“We can confirm that the site has been recently closed off by the landowner and no further waste has since been dumped there. As with all our live investigations, we cannot comment further currently for legal reasons.
“Members of the public are encouraged to report any illegal waste activities to us in confidence via our 24-hour freephone incident hotline on 0800807060 or anonymous to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.”