Cars churning up the grass verges, cracked pavements and noise are just some of the reason why Cllr Stephen Goldspink believes the car boot at The Wirrina, in Bishop's Road, should be scrapped.

The East Ward councillor says that the "few thousand pounds" brought in each year by the sales, which have run every Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday for the past few years, is outweighed by the cost to the environment and the quality of life for neighbouring residents.

However, car boot organiser Tony D'Alessio, who has run the sales for three years, said the concerns have come as a complete surprise to him.

Should the car boot sale stay?
Comment below, email us: news@ peterboroughtoday.co.uk or telephone the newsdesk 01733 588719.
-------------------------------------

Cllr Goldspink was first told about the problem when he was out and about last April knocking on people's doors to drum up votes for the election.

He said: "One or two of the elderly residents at Stephenson Court were saying there's a lot of noise, with door's slamming and people shouting.

"They were also saying that people were parking their cars on the grass verges and pavements, causing damage to both. I managed to get a bit of fencing up to deter people, but then they went up on the other side.

"I was out on a Sunday morning recently and I was horrified. The cars were all over the verges, pavements and paths, completely oblivious to the legality of it.

"It has to be seen to be believed. Shortly after that, I had more complaints again."

Now, the councillor has taken his battle to new heights and written to the council's head of property services, Andrew Edwards, calling for an immediate halt to car boot sales on the site.

He added: "Any income that we are making in the one hand will be lost by maintenance expenditure in the other and we had to pay to install a barrier.

"The only way to relieve my residents of this blight is to cease it completely and I won't rest until that happens."

Mr D'Alessio, who says the car boot sales at The Wirrina have been running on and off for the past 20 years, didn't want to comment on the situation until he knows more.

He said: "I'm not aware of anything whatsoever and while I don't know anything then I don't want to comment on it. It comes as a surprise to me."

A spokesperson confirmed that they have received the letter from Cllr Goldspink in regard to the car boot sale and said the his concerns will be raised with the Mr D'Alessio.