Dozens fined over unauthorised car gatherings

Unauthorised "car meets" at a West Yorkshire industrial estate led to dozens of motorists being issued with fines.

CCTV was installed at Bradford’s Euroway Trading Estate after it was identified as a hotspot for anti-social driving.

More than 100 fixed penalty notices were handed out after two large gatherings there in October, according to Bradford Council.

But one councillor said the problem was only dealt with after the council's Green Party representatives “made a big fuss”.

A new report by the Safer Bradford Partnership said the estate had been popular for the car gatherings due to its proximity to the M606.

The report said: "There has not been a further meet since October, and we hope the issuing of fines is having the desired effect of deterring these events."

A public space protection order was introduced across Bradford in 2019 in a bid to tackle driving that is anti-social but not necessarily illegal.

Motorists can be handed fixed penalties of up to £100 for loudly revving engines, shouting at people out of their windows or attending unauthorised gatherings.

Tong councillor Matt Edwards, the leader of the council's Green Party group, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the bulk of the tickets were handed out after his party raised concerns that very few motorists were being punished.

"Up until the summer of last year only nine tickets were issued," he said.

"Green ward councillors made a big fuss of this and since then 123 penalty notices were issued just from a few car meets."

He added: "There is actually a road of houses in Euroways and Rockhill Lane is well used by residents in Bierley so this is absolutely not a harmless thing to do."

A Bradford Council spokesperson said: “We take the anti-social use of motor vehicles very seriously.

"After two larger meets at this location in October 2023, over 100 fixed penalty notices were issued and no further meets have taken place."

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