CALL FOR ARMY TO STOP BOY RACERS
PLEA AS ‘JEWEL IN CROWN’ NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAGUED BY SPEEDING CARS AFTER DARK
CASH-STRAPPED Salford council is running out of options to tackle antisocial behaviour at the Quays which residents say is being ‘taken over with boy racers.’
Dozens have now signed a petition calling on Greater Manchester Police to deal with ‘rampant’ anti-social behaviour across Salford Quays.
Their complaints come after cars were caught on camera waking residents up late on Sunday night by sounding their horns as they drove around Salford.
Videos posted on social media show a procession of vehicles driving around a roundabout in the Quays area with their horns sounding continuously.
A similar scene was spotted on Chapel Street on the same night.
This comes just weeks after Quays residents reported expensive sports cars racing through their neighbourhood almost every night from around 11pm.
Ordsall councillor Tanya Burch, who represents residents in Salford Quays, said she recently witnessed a Lamborghini racing back and forth from The Alchemist to the nearby multi-storey car park while she was walking in the area and she described the noise the sports car made as ‘horrendous.’
But she said the disruptive drivers sounding their horns on Sunday night seemed like more of a ‘ritual’ to her.
The Labour councillor said the local authority is ‘well aware’ of the antisocial behaviour taking place at Salford Quays, including young people gathering in large numbers, flouting lockdown laws and risking the spread of coronavirus.
However, without the resources for more of a police presence in the area, as well as government funding for youth workers, she says Salford council’s ability to tackle anti-social behaviour in the neighbourhood is limited.
She said: “The only thing left we can do is bring in the Army. There has to be common sense used. Who’s going to control 200 pretty rowdy young people who have been in lockdown? We would love for there to be a magic wand and all the issues to go away. Salford Quays is a jewel in Salford city’s crown. We are doing everything in our power.”
Coun David Lancaster, lead member for environment and community safety, has promised to assist the police following Sunday night’s incident.
He said: “It is unacceptable for residents to be disturbed by cars sounding their horns and anti-social behaviour.
“Our CCTV camera network covers the Quays 24/7 and we are reviewing footage to see how we can assist the police in bringing offenders to justice.”