7:00am Saturday 4th July 2009
By Scott McPherson
Families living close to car parks in Chippenham used by boy racers until the early hours of the morning have spoken of their ordeal.
The problem, which has been identified by Wiltshire Police as one of the top priorities for the Chippenham Neighbourhood Policing Team, has been going on for years in the towns biggest car parks.
The main problem areas are the car parks in Bath Road, Sainsbury’s, Morrison’s and Hathaway Retail Park.
One woman on Beverley Way, Cepen Park South, has spoken of her torment.
She said: “Over the past year, the residents of Cepen Park South have been literally driven to breaking point by groups of youths in souped-up cars meeting in the Sainsbury’s car park at night to practise handbrake turns and challenge each other to a game of whose pimped out ride is loudest, often until 4am on weeknights and weekends.
“On the estate, sleep deprivation, distress and anger, coupled with the belief that the police were not taking it seriously, left us feeling exhausted and besieged.
“Last weekend was the final straw – a pandemonium of screeching brakes, engine noise, beeping horns and an engine backfiring until 4am. I can only guess at the motives of the young people concerned, but they clearly believe they are invincible. They think they can outmanoeuvre the police and everyone else can go to hell.”
Malmesbury has a similar problem, where concerned Arthur Robb has started a one-man campaign to rid the town of the boy racers by setting up a daily log.
His daily reports on the problems in Station Yard and Gloucester Road car parks are sent to the police, media and neighbours.
Chippenham Police can be contacted on 0845 408 7000, or on Crimestoppers 0800 555 111.
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