A huge mound of earth could be shovelled to the edge of Norfolk Showground to battle noise from a planned speedway track.

Promoter Steve Ribbons, below, from New Firs Ltd, hopes to bring the sport back to Norwich by building a track on the eastern edge of the showground, near Costessey park and ride.

But after the plans were revealed by the Evening News in July, fears were raised over noise pollution caused by the motorcycles, and extra traffic on race nights.

To tackle concerns over sound, Mr Ribbons said they were now looking at building an earth bank along the edge of the site, which would block out some of the noise for families living near the showground.

After a meeting with planning consultants Lanpro on Wednesday afternoon, he said: 'We are just discussing how far the earth bank should go.

'Plans are ongoing in terms of noise mitigation.

'We have heard people's concerns and we are trying to do something about it.'

He added: 'We don't want the noise to get to the point where it is intrusive.'

Lanpro are working with New Firs Ltd, and have carried out traffic surveys, to show the Longwater junction on the A47 could cope with the expected increase in traffic on speedway race nights.

Mr Ribbons added: 'I don't believe there should be concerns about traffic.'

The earth bank would be built on the edge of Long Lane, which runs between Costessey park and ride and the showground's eastern edge.

A planning application is expected to be submitted in September.

The News Firs would see approximately 30 meetings a year, with around 15 races taking place between 7.30pm and 10pm, and only when there are no other major events at the showground.

A 360-metre track will be at the centre of the 11-hectare New Firs development, which would see speedway return to Norwich after almost half a century.

Speedway ended in the city in 1964 with the closure of the Firs track at Hellesdon, where the Norwich Stars used to race.

Do you have a story about Costessey for the Evening News? Contact reporter Tom Bristow on 01603772313 or email tom.bristow@archant.co.uk.