COUNCIL CONSULTS ON PSPO PLANS FOR CAR CRUISING

Residents and other stakeholders are being asked for their views on plans to prohibit car cruising in public places across Newcastle-under-Lyme for a three-year period.

Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council has launched a consultation exercise on a draft public space protection order (PSPO) it has created following an increase in incidents across the borough and a subsequent rise in complaints from residents and businesses.

The proposed order – the first of its type in the borough – prohibits any meeting of two or more motor vehicles, including motorbikes, on local roads or public spaces at all times where any such vehicle or occupant engages in any behaviour considered to be car cruising, including the following specific activities:

• Causing a danger to other road users, including pedestrians, or a significant risk of damage to property by either speeding or racing.

• Driving in convoy.

• Performing stunts.

• Repeatedly sounding horns.

• Playing music excessively loud.

• Using foul or abusive language.

• Using threatening, intimidating behaviour towards another person.

• Obstructing a public highway, or public place, whether moving or stationary.

• Promoting, organising or publicising car cruising, via e-mail, the internet, Facebook, Xor similar social media, or any publication or broadcast.

A person found to be in breach of an approved order would be liable for a fine or a fixed penalty notice of £100.

Cllr. Gill Heesom, Cabinet member for community safety and well-being, said: “Car cruising has been an ongoing issue in the borough for a number of years, on and off, in multiple locations, most likely due to multiple links to the M6. There were problems at Wolstanton retail park, which is private land, until barriers were installed at the Council’s insistence. The main area of concern is now the A34, coming from Talke towards Newcastle, and there have also been recent issues on Clayton Road and Parksite industrial estate in Chesterton.

“We want our communities to be happy, healthy and able to enjoy living in a safeenvironment. Residents, visitors and businesses have repeatedly told us – and Staffordshire Police – that car cruising in public places is causing them significant disruption and misery with booming music, loud exhausts, dangerous driving and wheel spinning,often late at night, being common themes in their locality. It’s clear that this activity is having a detrimental impact on people’s quality of life so we want to put a stop to it and a PSPO would allow us to achieve that.

“The council is planning to adopt the PSPO towards the end of the year but is keen to hear from residents and other stakeholders first.”

The PSPO, like existing ones prohibiting negative behaviours in Newcastle town centre and Queen Elizabeth Park, would be enforced by Staffordshire Police.

Chief Inspector Darren McGrath, from Newcastle local policing team, added: “We are committed to ensuring public safety across the county. Car cruising, where drivers meet on the public highway or large public car parks to race or show their vehicles to others, can pose serious risks to public safety. In recent years, they have gained popularity, often drawing large numbers of cars. They distress local residents through anti-social driving involving excessive noise and speeding.”

The draft order and map, and a facility to submit comments, is available on the Council’s website until Wednesday, 2 October.