Ulster Grand Prix bosses are encouraging fans and residens to voice their opposition to plans for a 96-acre cemetery adjacent to the Dundrod circuit.

The chiefs say they are united with a majority of local residents in their opposition to the planned site on Quarterland Road, which have been submitted to Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council. A number of local politicians including Alderman James Tinsley have met with DDMC, UGPSC and the residents on several occasions and are fully supportive of the opposition. The only access to the cemetery would be via the Ulster Grand Prix circuit.

“This proposal is fundamentally incompatible with the long established Ulster Grand Prix circuit,” said Robert Graham, Chairman of the Dundrod and District Motorcycle Club.

“This event is one of the biggest annual events in the road racing calendar, attracting tens of thousands of visitors from across the world. The economic impact is significant; spectator spend alone generates an estimated £2.5 million every year, and there are more than 10,000 commercial bed nights.

“In social and cultural terms, the Ulster Grand Prix is part of the established fabric of the area and all steps must be taken to protect this important local event.

“The applicant has suggested the concept of closing the cemetery on the days of racing, which is simply not practical. In planning terms, such a condition would be viewed as unreasonable and we believe this suggestion to be meaningless because it is clearly unsustainable.

“There’s also the flexible road closing order ‘Road Races (Northern Ireland) Order 1986 Amendment Act (Northern Ireland) 2014’ to consider, whereby we can swap the day the roads close with 24 hours notice to avoid cancellation of the race altogether due to inclement conditions.

“What would we then do if we changed racing from a Thursday to a Friday only to discover that numerous burials had been planned for that day? It would create utter chaos and an impossible situation.”