Car meet hotspot could come under council order

More than 150 people have supported a public space protection order on a hotspot for unauthorised car meets and cruising events.

Peterborough City Council proposed the order for Pleasure Fair Meadow Car Park as a way of tackling vehicle-related anti-social behaviour.

About 18 people opposed the order. They said there were limited locations in the city for car enthusiasts who like to meet and do not commit any crimes.

If implemented, anyone involved with vehicle-related nuisance and anti-social behaviour at the site could be fined up to £1,000 or face a fixed penalty notice.

Pleasure Fair Meadow Car Park is a council operated long stay public car park.

It is monitored by a CCTV camera and, from April 2023 to November 2024, 32 incidents were logged concerning anti-social or dangerous driving and vehicle-related anti-social behaviour.

It ranged from large scale car meets of about 300 cars to smaller gatherings.

Drivers also carried out stunts such as doughnuts, hand brake turns and other dangerous driving, said the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Leader of the Liberal Democrat group, Christian Hogg, who represents the ward where the car park is located, said: "It has taken an incredibly long time to get to the point where we are right now.

"It is absolutely most welcome, as the residents around Pleasure Fair Meadow Car Park have been blighted for years with screeching tyres, revving engines and loud music on a regular basis.

"It has been incredibly destabilising for people's work patterns and not being able to get a proper night's sleep."

A report, following a public consultation in March, stated people in the area also had concerns regarding speeding and drug use.

Those against the order said there were "limited locations for car enthusiasts to meet in Peterborough".

Alison Jones, cabinet member for housing and communities, is expected to make a decision on the order by 3 July.

If implemented, it would allow the council and police to tackle vehicle-related nuisance and anti-social behaviour at the site.

Independent councillor Julie Stevenson said: "It can feel almost like people who love cars and getting together to enjoy them are being unfairly punished and I have some sympathy with that.

"Obviously, it is the behaviour of a few that are spoiling it for many, which is a huge shame and I hope those who run the car meets will talk to the council and try to find some compromise to do it safely."

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