It could be thought that living next to an airport and a race track would be a nightmare due to noise, traffic and parking issues at all hours. But residents near East Midlands Airport and Donington Park could not have spoken more highly about where they live.
Business owners and people living in Castle Donington were unanimous in their support for where they live. Among those include Julie Logan, owner of The Olive Branch Toy Shop on Borough Street.
She said: "The airport is a benefit because people stay in the airport and the village so we get trade from it, having the airport nearby isn’t always a negative. If you live here you accept it, the village community is lovely and it balances the negatives of noise and other things
"The bypass cuts down traffic so it isn’t a massive issue, the airport doesn’t bother me and I’ve lived her 35 years and it doesn’t bother me. Tourists need to find the village and come visit us."
And local residents say being so close to the airport and one of the UK's most famous race tracks is not a problem for them at all.
Beth Spencer said: "Me and my fiancé have lived relatively close to the airport since we were born six miles from Castle Donington. However we moved here four years ago and we love it.
"There is no traffic issues because of the airport, if anything there's regular airport buses which are brilliant. We love going for a walk and watching the planes, our little boy is 18 months and knew the word 'aeroplane' by six months and would look to the sky.
"The noise is fine, it's not as if planes take off every half hour and some of them are really impressive. So overall, we love it!
"I feel like Castle Donington can get a bad rep for the planes and the race track but if you like planes and racing and it all creates such a good community atmosphere then it’s a positive in our eyes regardless of noise."
Emily Summers said: "I love hearing the race track now. I'm not into bikes or cars at all but after everything went silent in lockdown it was the biggest relief to hear the hum of normality again."
Mark Gavin Monk said: "I'm very positive about being close to the airport, it is good for the local economy and very handy to have."
But one resident said there are other issues which affect the market town.
Bec Wykes said: "The race track and Airport have been here for decades. The biggest issue facing residents of Castle Donington is not noise pollution, but total lack of local infrastructure despite huge housing developments being built in recent years.
"Public transport, dental and GP services are stretched to capacity it seems."
