COUNCIL chiefs have pledged to work with police to crack down on boy racers speeding around their car parks late at night.

Will Clarke

COUNCIL chiefs have pledged to work with police to crack down on boy racers speeding around their car parks late at night.

For commuters to Bury St Edmunds there is little sign of the young drivers' stunts other than tyre marks on the tarmac but neighbours have had enough of the nightly racket.

Residents around the Ram Meadow in Bury have appealed to St Edmundsbury Borough Council for action and as a result it is now set to close the large town centre car park at night.

The trial closure is the latest in a string of initiatives to encourage the young motor enthusiasts to meet up and drive more considerately.

The groups responsible will now have to find somewhere else to go but police have said they will be stepping up patrols during the trial late night closure of Ram Meadow.

A spokeswoman for St Edmundsbury said: “The closure follows close consultation with the police, local residents and businesses, and is aimed at preventing anti-social behaviour from people driving their cars around the area at high speed.

“The closure will initially be for a trial period of six months, to assess any impact. Large fluorescent signs have been erected in advance to warn users that there is no call-out contact, should they find themselves locked in.

“However, the 65 space annex car park - which has its entrance immediately to the left of the main Ram Meadow car park - will remain open 24 hours a day and is covered by CCTV.”

A spokeswoman for Suffolk police said the problem was a long term priority of Bury's Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT), which will be assisting in the closure trial.

She said: “When the car park closes at night it will be monitored along with other car parks in the town, we will obviously respond to any calls we receive about anti-social vehicle use anywhere in the town, and if any new issues emerge elsewhere we will react accordingly.

“This has been an SNT priority for some time with various methods being used to tackle. It remains a priority and as such SNT officers will be on patrol in the area.”

The long stay car park at Ram Meadow is to close overnight between 10.30pm and 5.30am from Monday.