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Circuit of Wales is a motor racing circuit under development in Blaenau Gwent, Wales with a planned opening in 2016.〔 A joint venture funded by the Welsh Government and private investors, it is to be situated on the A465 road on the outskirts of the town of Ebbw Vale and 18 miles (29 km) north-west of the city of Newport, and is intended to be constructed by Heads of the Valleys Development Company. The circuit is being designed to FIA and FIM standards with the aim of hosting events such as the MotoGP,〔 Superbike World Championship, Motocross World Championship and the World Touring Car Championship. ==Development== The project was unveiled towards the end of 2011. After submitting plans to Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council, the circuit received unanimous approval of its outline planning and was given the go ahead to begin development in early July 2013, amidst opposition from groups including Gwent Wildlife Trust, Brecon Beacons National Park, Natural Resources Wales and the Association of Motor Racing Circuit Owners. However, by the end of July, the Welsh Government put the plans on hold whilst it reviewed the planning application. The Welsh Government indicated in August 2013 that the local council would take decisions concerning the project. It was later confirmed by the developers that construction was due to start around Christmas 2013 and should be completed in 2015/16. In 2014 the developers asked the Welsh and UK governments to commit up to £50m towards the scheme. While the developers believe that 6,000 jobs would be created, and the scheme has strong local support, there are wider objections on environmental grounds for the developers to address. In July 2014, the then Environment Minister Alun Davies was found by an investigation of the Permanent Secretary of the Welsh Government to have broken the Ministerial Code through lobbying Natural Resources Wales in favour of the racetrack - due to be built in his constituency of Blaenau Gwent〔(Alun Davies breached code by lobbying but will not be sacked ) BBC News 1 July 2014. Retrieved 2014-12-12〕 - leaving his political career "on the edge of a cliff".〔(Carwyn Jones: Alun Davies was 'on edge of a cliff' ). BBC News 9 July 2014. Retrieved 2014-12-12〕 He was sacked the following week, with the senior civil servant writing to the First Minister referring to "the week we have all just endured".〔(Alun Davies sacking: In full - the emails that raised concerns ) walesonline.co.uk 8 July 2014. Retrieved 2014-12-12〕 In November 2014, controversy surfaced after allegations that the Welsh Government had interfered with due process on planning, particularly through gaining privileged information from the Planning Inspectorate.〔(Circuit of Wales planning process 'interfered with' by ministers, says Friends of Earth Cymru and Plaid ) walesonline.co.uk 26 November 2014. Retrieved 2014-12-11〕 On 17 November 2015 it was reported that the Welsh government had given final approval to deregister the common land on which the circuit is to be built. However the development's congestion at peak times (race days) obstructing the sole main access to areas of Wales to the west (Heads of Valleys route A465) and near Towns is yet to be made clear and resolved. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Circuit of Wales」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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