'High-speed road races will kill someone'

People who live next to a dual carriageway where hundreds gather for race meets have said it is a "matter of time" until someone is killed.

Between 50 and 100 vehicles raced at speeds of up to 120mph between the M1 junction 31 roundabout and the Red Lion roundabout near Todwick at the most recent gathering, witnesses said.

At the meets, which have been happening since 2020, racers block access to the roundabouts and side roads, turning the A57 into a "race track".

Janice McWilliam, who lives on Grange Gardens just off the main road, said: "It is a big accident waiting to happen, where someone will die."

She said: "Someone quite innocent could get involved.

"If you're coming home at that time, you're stuck out on the A57, you're vulnerable."

Anne Griffiths, also of Grange Gardens, said: "Our neighbours were coming home and couldn't get into the estate, with cars coming past at 120mph.

"It was awful to see and really frightening."

The driveway up to the houses is used as a "pit stop", with around 15 cars blocking access during the most recent meet on 8 February.

Residents of other side roads including Goosecarr Lane and Hardwick Lane were also blocked in.

Up to 300 people, including young children, gathered around the "track" on Worksop Road with many watching from the central reservation, according to residents.

Ms McWilliam said people in the crowds filmed the cars, with some drivers wearing GoPro cameras on their heads, and one car driving without a bonnet.

"I can hear it sat inside the house; it is so loud," she said.

"I don't feel totally unsafe myself, however I fear for other road users and other people.

"Emergency vehicles can't get in if they need to."

One resident who asked to remain anonymous said a layer of visible fog from car fumes was left over the road and smelled "horrendous".

He reported seeing litter being thrown from vehicles and people urinating at the side of the road.

"They have exhausts on them to make noise, and ones that backfire just to give an effect. At 10 or 11 o'clock, it's waking children up," he added.

"Eventually they will kill someone, it's only a matter of time."

The meets have been happening irregularly for the last five years, at one point as often as every fortnight, primarily at weekends and always after nightfall.

"It does make you nervous if it hasn't happened for a few weeks," said John Bell, 67.

"The cars are modified so they are very noisy anyway, but when they're doing 120mph - it's beyond comprehension really. It is like being at a race track.

"Last time, we went down as a group to make our presence felt, but they're just not bothered."

Joshua Bacon, councillor for Aston and Todwick, has been campaigning for a public space protection order (PSPO) to be imposed by Rotherham Council to prevent "lawlessness" and antisocial behaviour that comes with the meets.

He said: "There are witness accounts of drug paraphernalia at these race meet-ups, an overwhelming smell of cannabis [and] a general disregard for residents.

"We must give the authorities any additional powers they need to crack down hard on these thugs that are causing misery and fear to the residents."

A PSPO could allow the council to restrict certain activities, impose curfews or ban vehicles from specific areas at certain times.

Sam Barstow, assistant director for street and community safety, said the council was considering a number of options to tackle the issue, and a PSPO would have to meet legal criteria.

Ms Griffiths said she had her "fingers crossed" the issue would improve, after the police attended the February incident.

"It took them a long time to come, but they did a fantastic job, they blocked the whole thing off and got their details," she said.

South Yorkshire Police road policing inspector Matt Collins previously said he appreciated those who engaged with police to hold car meets legally, but people who did not would be "robustly dealt with".

A spokesperson for the force said one vehicle, of the estimated 50-100 at the February meet, was prohibited.

Others were "dealt with" using traffic offence reports.

The force did not comment on the lack of speed cameras along the road.

Additional reporting by the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

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