A 50ft rollercoaster could be dismantled after planners ruled that its towering size was unacceptable, following months of complaints from neighbours about the noise of test runs.
People living in Hucknall, Nottinghamshire, say they have spent the past 18 months beside the unfinished attraction, watching test carts repeatedly race around the track just yards from their homes.
The ride is being assembled and tested by Nottinghamshire firm Mellors Group, which designs, builds and trials attractions for customers around the world.
While some residents claim the site has attracted urban explorers, others have branded the structure an eyesore and criticised the noise created during regular testing.
Almost two years after the rollercoaster first appeared above the local skyline, it may now be destined for removal.
Ashfield District Council has rejected a retrospective planning application that aimed to establish the site as a formal testing and repair depot.
Planning officers said the rollercoaster would look out of place and be overly intrusive because of its “excessive scale”.
The council’s decision notice, issued on October 20, stated: “Owing to their scale, height and visual prominence, the rollercoasters would create an overbearing and oppressive presence when viewed from nearby dwellings.”
Jack Welsh, 45, said his family can see the huge 50ft rollercoaster from their living room in Hucknall, Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire-based Mellors Group has been testing the attraction, but councillors have ruled that it should be removed
Officials also warned that the ride would harm views of the Grade II-listed RAF and Rolls-Royce hangars located on the site.
The decision has been met with relief by local residents, who said they were “thrilled” by the outcome.
Jack Welsh, 45, lives beside the track with his wife Kirsty and their eight-year-old daughter Sapphire. He said: “We can watch the carts speeding around the track from our living room window.
“I can understand why some people have an issue with it. It is enormous and it overlooks the gardens.
“It can also be a nuisance when the straps are left out overnight. The wind catches them and they make a loud crashing noise.
“There was a problem with urban explorers too, because they were climbing onto it.”
Another neighbour said: “Thankfully, common sense has prevailed and we are delighted.
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“The company will probably appeal, but the council’s decision was very strongly worded.”
The rollercoaster was erected beside a new-build housing estate in Hucknall, Nottingham
Residents on the 12-home street say the giant structure has ruined the outlook from their properties
People living on the estate regularly watch test carts speeding around the track
“This is not about being a NIMBY. It is about not wanting to live beside an unattractive metal rollercoaster that dominates the skyline and feels so intrusive.”
A second neighbour said: “Hopefully the matter will not be prolonged. We are all tired of living next to what feels like a theme park.”
Another resident, who did not wish to be identified, said: “When workers are carrying out repairs, they can see directly into gardens and bedrooms, which feels intrusive.
“People should not feel as though they are being watched inside their own homes.”
Councillor Dave Shaw, who represents Hucknall West on Ashfield District Council, described the ruling as “absolutely fantastic news”.
Mellors Group has said it intends to challenge the decision. A spokesman said: “We believe there has been a misunderstanding about what we are trying to achieve and hope to work towards a solution that addresses the concerns raised.”
James Mellors, a director of the family-run company, previously admitted that the rollercoaster had remained in place far longer than expected, but stressed that its presence was temporary.
He said last month: “It has been there much longer than we anticipated. It is temporary, and normally a ride would not remain in position for anything like this length of time.
“It is the first of its kind in the world, and it has not come together quite as smoothly as it should have.
“I am frustrated by how long the coaster has been there. Rides do not generate any income while they are sitting in storage.
“Our intention is to be a good neighbour. We are not trying to create a nuisance. This is a work depot, not a fairground.
“We want people to understand what we do, and we recognise and respect their concerns.”
