A CAMPAIGNER battling for action over noise from the Croft motor racing circuit, near Darlington, has won a small but significant victory.

Derek Watson, who lives within earshot of the track, complained that Richmondshire District Council had failed to answer specific questions about operations at the circuit to the authority's standards committee.

At first, it seemed its members would only be allowed to discuss whether the replies to Mr Watson's inquiries over noise controls at a race meeting last May had been timely.

The council's officers insisted Mr Watson received a letter in October which dealt with his inquiries.

They said because he had not made a formal complaint since, the standards committee could not discuss whether or not he was satisfied with the answers he had been given.

However, in the wake of rigorous objections by Mr Watson, the committee agreed it should meet again to discuss if the council's replies were adequate.

Meanwhile, members also agreed they were not satisfied that the council's officers had responded to Mr Watson's questions within the authority's self-imposed time limits.

In October, executive director Tony Clark promised Mr Watson a reply within 14 days, but it was 16 days before he received a note informing him that a full response was on its way.

"I think the meeting was quite a success," Mr Watson said yesterday.

"We now look forward to another meeting of the standards committee as soon as possible, where we hope members will be able to decide for themselves how wrong things appear to be when it comes to the council's dealings with Croft circuit,'' he said.