Wokingham Borough Council’s Conservative administration has unveiled plans for new powers to tackle nuisance car meets and drag racing.
Following May’s local elections, the Council will consult with the police and local residents on introducing a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) for all Councilowned and public land.
The PSPO will give the Council a stronger hand to respond to recent anti-social vehicle use in car parks, drag-racing on roads and drifting around roundabouts.
Concerns around the nuisance for residents and the danger for other drivers have led the Council’s Conservative leadership to consider the measure.
The PSPO would make it an offence to take part in, organise, promote or attend these activities. Failing to comply with the PSPO could lead to a conviction and a fine of up to £1,000.
Council officers and the police would also have the power to issue on-the-spot fines of £100.
The consultation, due to be approved on 22nd March 2022, will take place following the 2022 local elections on 5th May. Restrictions on promoting the Council’s activities during ‘purdah’, the campaign period, mean that residents and other interested parties will be consulted once voting has concluded. Details of the consultation period will be released in due course.
Cllr Bill Soane, Executive Member for Neighbourhood and Communities, said: “This Public Spaces Protection Order is a powerful tool for the Council to stamp out the problem of car meets and dangerous driving in Wokingham Borough.
“Councillors across the Borough have raised concerns from local residents about this issue, and we’re acting to deal with this issue.
“Please back the actions of your Conservative Council and give your approval via the consultation.”
