Local MP Calls For Action Before a Tragedy Occurs
Maria said,
‘’I was deeply concerned to receive reports for the second time in a fortnight, that a noisy illegal car meet took place in Basingstoke over the weekend. These kinds of car meets constitute a particularly annoying form of anti-social behaviour. Not only does the revving of engines cause distress to residents for miles around, but road racing and vehicle stunts pose a grave risk to law-abiding road users. There have been fatalities at these kinds of events in other parts of the country. We cannot allow this to happen in our town. Action must be taken before we see serious injury.
‘’Last summer we were subject to a number of disruptive car meets. Alongside local councillors, I urged the police to take a tougher stance. They acted quickly by seizing vehicles and issued a number of fines. These proactive actions worked short term. We bucked the trend seen across other parts of Hampshire, Illegal car meets stopped occurring in Basingstoke and we bucked the trend seen across other parts of Hampshire.
‘’Whilst this initial response is to be applauded, the problem has clearly not gone away. We cannot return to a situation in which car meets become a regular occurrence. As well as impounding cars participating in illegal events, the police and the Borough Council need to work together to instigate a Basingstoke wide injunction on car cruising and illegal car meets. Doing this will give the police the powers to arrest anyone participating in this appalling anti-social and potentially dangerous behaviour. The message needs to be clear, Basingstoke’s roads cannot be used as a racetrack. ‘’
County Councilor Stephen Reid has been instrumental in improving security in car meet locations in his division. He supports Maria’s suggestion of a Borough-wide injunction.
“I am aware of disruptive car meets at multiple locations around the town and last weekend there was high speed racing up and down the A30 in my division that went on late into the night. We need a solution that tells the culprits to keep out of Basingstoke. They are putting lives at risk, and it has to stop.”