A FORMER pig farmer battling to open a go-karting track has "beaten" the planning regulations to start his business.

Robert Bulmer, of Little Habton, outside Malton, planned to start a rally karting track five years ago.

But he was knocked back by officials, who turned down applications for outdoor and indoor tracks amid concerns about the level of noise generated by the karts.

Now Mr Bulmer and children Stephen and Christine have turned the 28-day rule for permitted development to their advantage.

Under the regulations - which cover events such as village shows and fetes - land can be used for up to 28 days per year for a leisure activity without the need for planning permission.

And there are hopes that other landowners will step forward with space for "VIP Rally Karting" to take the activity to them.

Stephen Bulmer said: "The beauty of this is that we are doing our best to make it all mobile, so we can set it up where people want it.

"We are mainly promoting it through word of mouth, and we have already had inquiries from Old Malton, Malton, and even Leeds."

The father-and-son team took their karts to events at a Malton school and at the Brooklyn Youth Centre, Norton. Head teacher Colin Culley, from Malton Community Primary, wrote back after a school fete commenting on how impressed everyone had been about the quietness of the engines. Robert Bulmer said: "At the end of the day I don't want to upset any of my neighbours.

"But we have done some trial events testing the track ourselves and nobody has complained.

"I've got video footage of events we have done and I don't think anyone even knows we have done it." Mr Bulmer said he was frustrated at how difficult it had been to start up the scheme because of lengthy planning decisions.

But he said they had a site in Great Habton ready to go next weekend if the interest was there.

"We are trying to get a leisure activity going that is much needed in this area."

Anyone interested in having the rally karting on their land or going karting themselves should phone the organisers on 07815 734651.

Updated: 09:57 Tuesday, March 04, 2003