First road rally race ‘will give birds PTSD’

BRITAIN’S first rally race on public roads has been criticised by the RSPCA amid claims engine noise could traumatise animals.

The event near Clacton, Essex, in April will see 120 cars racing at up to 140mph in the first event of its kind since a change in the law last year made it easier for events to get a permit to fully close public roads.

Chelmsford Motor Club, the organiser, says there will be five special stages on closed roads and lanes, each run three times giving competitors 45 miles of flat-out driving with 100 miles of linking roads.

However, an RSPCA survey found that nearly half of local dog owners questioned reported their dogs to be scared of loud noises, including cars backfiring.

“Noisy events like a rally are likely to be a frightening experience for many dogs and other pets,” it said.

“It is likely that the noise would also disturb wild animals such as waterfowl or nesting birds and is likely to cause suffering or distress, depending on the distance and the noise level.” Caroline Lindsay, a local veterinary physiotherapist, said: “The rally is scheduled for the peak wildlife and livestock breeding season and there is new evidence that animals can suffer from trauma due to noise and develop post-traumatic stress disorder.

“The council claims it will boost the local economy by £500,000 and bring more than 10,000 visitors to the area.

“But what they seem to ignore is the devastating effect it will have on the countryside, its inhabitants and its wildlife.”

Mrs Lindsay, 54, described the noise of the cars to animals and birds as the equivalent of a bomb going off to humans – and it would drive nesting birds away from their nests and scare off small animals.

But Tony Clements, an event organiser, said that he had visited every resident on the roads due to be closed to reassure them.

He said: “There is no such thing as post-traumatic stress disorder in birds and small mammals and there is no evidence to suggest they will be adversely affected by the passage of the rally.”