A NEW go-karting track in Basildon will be creating dozens of jobs after it was granted planning permission by the council.

The £1.2million development will be at Festival Business Park in Festival Way, opposite the popular Festival Leisure Park.

The new venue, owned by TeamSport will provide 40 new job opportunities for people in the area.

Andrew Buxton, councillor for the St Martin’s ward, welcomed the addition of the new venue, which will open in late November.

He said: “I think it is really good, we have tracks in Lakeside and Rayleigh Weir right now so it is nice to have one in Basildon too, also it will be creating more jobs for people in the area.”

The track will boast a 500 metre multi-level circuit complete with testing bends, long straights and even ramps.

At any one time 16 drivers will be able to race on the state-of-the-art track.

Dominic Gaynor, managing director of TeamSport Karting, said; “We’re delighted to have received the go-ahead to build a centre within Basildon, and our location close to the leisure park couldn’t be better.

“We now have a busy few months ahead as we commence the build before welcoming the town’s residents and visitors to the track in November.”

The money spent by TeamSport is also being used to ensure the safety of visitors whether they are children’s parties or corporate events.

Mr Buxton said that “safety has got to be paramount.”.

TeamSport has also said that all visitors to the track will be given professional racing wear, a full safety briefing and tuition from employees at the venue who will look after children racing on the track who are as young as eight-years-old.

Linda Allport-Hodge, the councillor for Langdon Hills ward, has absolute confidence that TeamSport will maintain the safety of its visitors but does accept that in an activity such as go-karting there is a risk involved.

She said: “I really support the board here, basically the more facilities we have for young people in terms of leisure is only going to be good.

“I am sure that they will have the safety procedures in place to mitigate any issues.”

Mrs Allport-Hodge is also delighted that it will bring more jobs and industry to Basildon.

She said: “It is a real positive that they want to come in and invest in the borough.”