Residents’ plea for relief from off-road chaos on their street
COUNCIL HOPES NEW HIGH-DEFINITION CAMERAS WILL HELP CRACKDOWN
RESIDENTS of a Newark street say off-road bikers are causing chaos with their anti-social behaviour.
Cleveland Square, home to Cleveland Green Park, has been identified by Newark and Sherwood District Council as a hotspot for trouble.
With plans to install new high-definition CCTV cameras, the area is plagued by loud engine noises. While the Post was there, we saw bikes whizzing past.
A 56-year-old cook, who lives nearby but didn’t want to be named, said: “There’s always something.
“We have teenagers on the park trying to ruin stuff and kids on motorbikes and quad bikes and they have even taken cars on there before. It’s horrible. It’s probably always been like that since they built the park.”
She added that someone would need to enforce the law or the new cameras would be “pointless”.
A retired 66-year-old, who has lived on the Square for several years, said: “There is the problem with the motorbikes. The council are supposed to be doing a lot for us and they haven’t done anything to stop it.
“The anti-social behaviour around here is awful, but it’s the motorbikes if anything. These days they go around with balaclavas on as well, and ride with those on so you can’t even see who they are.”
Concerns had been raised over quad bikes being driven at speed by helmetless drivers, wheelies being pulled in the street, shouting and swearing, and cars being driven dangerously.
A 56-year-old administrator, who did not wish to be named, explained: “It’s the quad bikes going across the park. Sometimes it’s motorbikes as well.
“I tend to find that they are just driving round here and cutting through the field. It will get worse in the summer.”
Councillor Paul Taylor, portfolio holder for public protection and community relations on the district council, said: “The improved quality of image we now get at Cleveland Square will really help us tackle ASB, thus protecting our beautiful play park there for the benefit of our local residents.
“The old cameras offered a certain amount of security.
“However, with the improved picture quality, we now stand a better chance of identifying anyone guilty of anti-social behaviour.”
He added that the council hoped to act quickly on incidents of antisocial behaviour. The new cameras also form part of the ongoing improvements being carried out across the district to tackle the issue.