COUNTRYSIDE campaigners have called for local government to be able to limit weekend activities which cause a rural racket in the summertime.

The Council for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) wants to bring such events as clay pigeon shooting, car boot sales and motor sport meets under democratic control and make it necessary for the organisers to seek permission from the relevant planning authority.

The CPRE is concerned because such gatherings result in a great deal of noise, traffic congestion, disruption of the countryside and general pollution.

Experts commissioned by the government to investigate the issue have recommended that planning rules should be changed, and that organisers should have to obtain planning permission.

The changes have been welcomed by Rupert Segar, CPRE Worcestershire spokesman. He said: "All summer long there will be places that suddenly get inundated with car boot sales or there will a rash of clay pigeon shooting going on and you can't do anything about it because they don't need planning permission."

Mark Sullivan, of the group's Warwickshire branch, explained: "At present, "temporary uses" - which are meant to last for 14 or 28 days in a year - are difficult for local councils and police to control. For instance, a car boot sale can take place on one field on 14 separate days, but then move to an adjoining field for 14 more, and still not require permission.

"Happily, government experts have recommended that the planning rules should be tightened up. The options include reducing the number of days in the year on which these activities can take place, or making them all subject to formal permission.

"CPRE Warwickshire would like to see the latter option adopted. The change in planning rules might be phased in gradually, to avoid local councils being swamped with applications, and fees should be reduced or waived for charities and special events such as school fetes, which only take place once a year."