People living near the track are concerned about noise and traffic

A petition supporting the track at Marsh Mills in Plymouth was signed by more 1,000 people, but hundreds of local residents had opposed it.

A report to Plymouth City Council had recommended refusal, but councillors voted by six votes to five on Tuesday evening to allow the track to remain.

The council has stipulated certain conditions, including noise levels and policing traffic on the A38 slipway.

To say I'm shell-shocked is an understatement Councillor Patrick Nicholson

Patrick Nicholson, one of the area's local councillors who opposed the track, said he was surprised by the decision.

He said: "To say I'm shell-shocked is an understatement.

"The petition was signed by people from as far afield as Truro, but the letters of opposition were almost entirely from local people directly affected by the track."

Mr Nicholson told BBC News he questioned whether the ad hoc decision made by some of the councillors was legal and added he would be looking into other ways to address residents' concerns.

But speedway promoter Mike Bowden said he was relieved and delighted by the decision and now planned to build a permanent arena.

He said he had put a lot of effort in to bringing speedway back to Plymouth and would have fought any decision to close it.