THE world’s most popular TV show, Top Gear, has been turned away by the Gold Coast because of noisy car concerns.

Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson wanted to come to the Coast next week to film a new Microsoft Xbox-sponsored V8 Supercar at the Holden Driving Centre at Norwell, in a deal brokered by racing legend Mark Skaife.

But Gold Coast City Council bureaucrats put the brakes on the show, watched by an estimated 350 million people in 170 countries, when they failed to relax noise restrictions in time.

Top Gear will now film in Warwick — a nice place but hardly Australia’s tourism capital.

REV HEAD HEAVEN: Top Gear in OZ

COAST ON SHOW: Top Gear hits the tourist strip in 2011

The council snub has angered driving centre boss Paul Morris, who said the Coast had lost the chance for ‘priceless publicity’.

“It’s an unbelievable lost opportunity,’’ Mr Morris, a racing car driver and team owner said.

“We are talking about the world’s biggest TV show and the council, which is always banging on about how the Gold Coast is open for business, can’t even facilitate it.

“Clarkson was going to drive the car himself. It’s bureaucracy gone mad. The pen-pushers are strangling this town with red tape.’’

WHAT DO YOU THINK? HAVE YOUR SAY IN THE COMMENTS SECTION BELOW

Mr Morris said the driving centre, despite being located in the northern Gold Coast canefields, operated under strict noise restrictions because of surrounding homes.

He had applied for a temporary relaxation but was told it could not be done in time to meet Top Gear’s tight scheduling demands.

Mr Morris said the council ‘should have moved heaven and earth’ to attract the show.

“The guy cutting cane next door makes more noise with his harvester than the V8 car,’’ he said.

Deputy Mayor and Norwell area councillor Donna Gates said the council had been given only 24 hours’ notice to approve the noise relaxation.

“We offered to move forward on it but it would have taken a few days,’’ she said.

“I’m disappointed in any opportunity like this that we miss. Top Gear obviously has a really big viewing audience and it would have been great promotion for the city.

“But there are issues related to noise from the driving centre and my job is to ensure the residents of that community are not to severely impacted.’’

###