KILVE Court Residential Centre has won a further five-year approval to retain a buggy track that has been in operation for more than a decade. Somerset County Council first granted permission for the track to be constructed in a former agricultural field to the south of the centre in 1994. But the sensitive location of the site within the designated Quantock Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, close to Kilve Court - a Grade Two listed building - and outside the village development line, has meant that over years the authority has only been willing to grant temporary permission for the facility. Although the centre director had this time requested a permanent permission to avoid the need for continued applications, the council's regulation committee agreed a maximum five years at its meeting last week. The application attracted objections from West Somerset District Council and a local resident, both concerned about the visual impact of the track. A second local resident raised no objection to the development providing the operating hours remained the same. But councillors were told last week that the track was not visibly prominent from either nearby private properties or public land and walkways within the locality and was fairly well screened on most sides. Officers concluded that retaining it would not have any greater detrimental impact to the landscape character than currently and that since it opened, the track had continued with little conflict or objection. They said the centre had made efforts to find an alternative site for the track but without success, dismissing one location to the east because it was too close to neighbouring properties, as well as a suggestion to use the existing car parking area, which was deemed to be too much of an asset to be lost. However, conditions imposed by councillors mean motor buggies cannot be used before 9am or after 9pm on Mondays to Saturdays and only from 11am to 6pm on no more than ten Sundays a year, with no use on bank or public holidays. The staging of rallies or competitions has also been forbidden, with the track to be used solely for recreational activities related to the centre.