A DENBY Dale man is in court over claims that off-road racing on his land is disturbing the neighbours.

James Peace, 35, of Syke House, appeared on trial at Huddersfield Magistrates' Court yesterday.

He has pleaded not guilty to 13 charges of breaching a noise abatement notice issued by Kirklees Council environmental services officers.

Peace is said to have allowed two clubs - Whiterose Autograss Club and Yorkshire Junior Grasstrack Club - to ride off-road motorbikes and drive stock cars on land belonging to his father near Broadstone Road in Cumberworth.

Environmental health officers issued a noise abatement notice against Peace on October 7, 2004 after complaints from people living near Broadstone Road.

The 13 charges against Peace related to alleged breaches of the noise abatement notice between April 3, 2005 and August 21, 2005.

Natalie Dunn - prosecuting for Kirklees Council - said officers had decided the noise from Peace's events constituted a statutory nuisance.

She said this meant the noise left residents unable to enjoy their property.

Miss Dunn said Peace had met with environmental health officers in February 2005, when he told them the noise would stop.

Then on July 21, 2005, Peace signed an anti-social behaviour contract, stating his land would not be used in a way which caused nuisance to his neighbours.

But Miss Dunn claims both these promises were broken.

Tim Jones, who lives just off Broadstones Road,

said the area near his home had been "idyllic" when he moved there in 1998.

But he said he and his family are now unable to enjoy the surroundings because of the noise from Peace's off-road events.

He said: "It is a pleasant, peaceful place and we are very fortunate in having that.

"Now it's impossible to sit out in the garden when the stock car racing takes place because the noise is so intrusive. It can be heard over lawn mowers and powered machinery.

"Noise can be heard in our house even with the windows closed.

"We have a small child and we are having problems trying to get him to sleep in the evenings because of the noise."

Mr Jones said he did not mind the activities on Peace's land when it was just youngsters riding on small, low-powered bikes.

But now, the events have grown in size.

He said: "The size and power of a lot of these motorcycles has grown and the people riding them have got older. Then there's stock cars - one can never describe those as being quiet."

Peace - who was representing himself - asked about earth-moving equipment Mr Jones had used on his own land in 1999.

He asked Mr Jones whether or not this had caused noise and dust.

Mr Jones admitted he used machinery to move soil between his two fields in order to make them useable as grazing land for his sheep.

But he said the work had only lasted a few months and the noise was less intrusive than that caused by the off-road meets.

The trial continues.