Peterborough residents speak of anger over problems caused by large car cruise in city

Residents have spoken of their anger about noise and disturbance caused by a car cruise in Peterborough city centre last night.
Big car meet at Fair Meadow car park EMN-200718-224018009Big car meet at Fair Meadow car park EMN-200718-224018009
Big car meet at Fair Meadow car park EMN-200718-224018009

The cruise happened on the Fair Meadow car park, and spilled into the Railworld Car Park in Woodston.However, residents living near-by have hit out at the organisation and policing of the event.

One resident who lives in Cubitt Way, who asked not to be named, said: “The policing of the event was atrocious.

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“Cubitt Way is a small, narrow dead end, with lots of young families living in the flats. All evening we had modified cars, with loud engines and exhausts, driving up the street, having to turn round and go out again. Lots of the cars were scraping on the speed bumps down here. It was a warm evening but we had to close our windows because it was so loud.

Big car meet at Fair Meadow car park EMN-200718-224029009Big car meet at Fair Meadow car park EMN-200718-224029009
Big car meet at Fair Meadow car park EMN-200718-224029009

“There were police on the street but they did nothing - they should have put traffic management in place to stop cars coming down the street.

“I called 101 to ask why nothing was being done to stop cars - but more than an hour later there was still a steady stream of cars coming down here.

“There was no social distancing in place, and an ice cream van was even allowed to park at the end of the street, which made social distancing even harder.

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MORE: Peterborough’s public health chief has urged all city residents to redouble social distancing and hand hygiene measures amid concern over the high rate of coronavirus cases in the city. The police did nothing about it. I know there were a number of complaints to 101, but it seemed the police were more interested in making sure the car cruise had a good night, rather than the well being of residents.

Big car meet at Fair Meadow car park EMN-200718-224052009Big car meet at Fair Meadow car park EMN-200718-224052009
Big car meet at Fair Meadow car park EMN-200718-224052009

“We were not warned that this was going to be taking place, even though I understand the police knew about it in advance.

After the cruise had finished, there were more complaints of anti-social driving in the south of the city into the night.

Speaking to the Peterborough Telegraph last night, Cllr Julie Howell, who represents the Orton Waterville Ward said residents lives were being made a misery.

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Earlier this month she warned a child could be killed by boy racers.She said: “I’m inundated with messages tonight because the usual problem-causers are drifting in Orton, while the police are all ‘keeping the peace’ with the ‘police-friendly’ static meet organisers.

Big car meet at Fair Meadow car park EMN-200718-224115009Big car meet at Fair Meadow car park EMN-200718-224115009
Big car meet at Fair Meadow car park EMN-200718-224115009

“Week in, week out, year in, year out. Nothing changes. The police could have put a dispersal order in as they knew about this car cruise.

“A dispersal order would have made a difference. A sustained police presence always helps.”