A peace deal has been struck between Norfolk's premier motor racing circuit and environmental health officers to help tackle long-running noise complaints.

A peace deal has been struck between Norfolk's premier motor racing circuit and environmental health officers to help tackle long-running noise complaints.

Officials from Snetterton race track and Breckland Council yesterday declared that they hoped to make life quieter for local communities after drawing up a noise control agreement.

The district council began legal proceedings against circuit owners MotorSport Vision (MSV) last year following a number of complaints about loud and intrusive noise causing a nuisance to nearby villagers.

But officers from the local authority yesterday said that it had now scrapped the noise abatement notice served on the company, owned by former Formula 1 driver Jonathan Palmer, after it consented to a range of measures to control the noisiest vehicles that use the track.

A Breckland Council spokesman said that MSV had agreed to limit the number of weekends of unsilenced vehicle racing, control the number of unsilenced vehicles on the circuit at any one time, limit the operating times of unsilenced vehicles, build a noise barrier and improve communications with residents.

The authority had served the noise abatement notice on the company in February 2007 following an investigation, which was challenged by MSV in the courts.

All legal proceedings have now been withdrawn. Steve Askew, executive member of Breckland Council, said the new deal would help significantly reduce overall noise levels at the circuit and improve the quality of life for residents in nearby Quidenham, Eccles, Kenninghall, Old Buckenham and East Harling.

“I am delighted that Breckland Council and MSV have recognised the issue of noise nuisance to local residents and have put in place control measures to help protect the local environment.

“Negotiations have been long and protracted resulting in a Statement of Best Practicable Means, which will reduce the level of nuisance noise experienced by our residents,” he added.

Jonathan Palmer, from MSV, which bought the Snetterton track four years ago, added: “Whilst it must be appreciated we are operating a business that will inevitably be heard close by, we do recognise the need to protect the local environment, and to work to address local residents' concerns over noise.

“We have always worked strenuously with the council to achieve a fair and balanced solution. Going forward, we are committed to working with the council to produce an overall noise management plan for the site, which should make things better still for the local community.”