STRICTER controls are needed on the various weekend events that take place in the countryside throughout summer, according to a rural campaign charity.

STRICTER controls are needed on the various weekend events that take place in the countryside throughout summer, according to a rural campaign charity.

The Council for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) want firmer guidance for people wishing to host car boot sales, motorsports, clay pigeon shooting and other events which they feel are noisy and can cause severe traffic congestion.

They want organisers to have to apply planning permission so that local authorities can decide if such ventures would be beneficial to the local community before making a decision.

Barry Porter, chairman of the Suffolk Preservation Society, a branch of the CPRE, does not feel that the problem is too great in the county but agrees that the issue should be looked into.

He said: "It is not a big a problem in Suffolk as it is in other parts of the country but it is something that we have been considerably concerned about in terms of planning permission."

"There needs to be a balance – we do not want to stop the events but equally we have to ensure that they do not shatter everyone else's peace and quiet."

Mr Porter added that his organisation had received some complaints from local residents.

He said: "We have had a number of inquires from people who have said that they are concerned with the way these events are organised and whether they actually have official permission. If they are not properly managed we can get problems both for the landowners and local people.

"You can get traffic problems, with cars parking indiscriminately around and blocking other people, or you can get excessive noise in the early hours during weekends."

The CPRE is urging Government ministers to phase in planning regulations gradually and offer reduced fees for charities and other events such as school or village fetes, which take place only once a year.