Councillors steps in to help tackle nuisance drivers at Derbyshire retail park

Signs have been erected and special measures have been imposed on the car park at Nottingham Road retail park in Somercotes, Alfreton.

The action follows conversations between both Coun John McCabe and Coun Katie Simpson, who represent Somercotes on Amber Valley Borough Council, and the owners of the retail park, which houses shops such as The Range, B&M and Aldi.

It is hoped the new measures will deter nuisance drivers from using the site after residents complained of vehicle noise late at night caused by revving engines and popping exhausts.

Coun McCabe said: “After a lot of hard work they’ve now put up cameras and notices saying drivers can’t park on there for over three hours and after 10.30pm at night nobody can be on that car park.

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"The nuisance has been going on about nine months. Me and my fellow councillor, Katie Simpson, have worked very hard on it and we’ve had numerous conversations with the owners of the car park outside The Range.

"They agreed to put the cameras and notices up to alleviate the situation. The nuisance drivers have been meeting virtually every week, racing up and down the car park at midnight, doing doughnuts and things like that.”

A doughnut is a manoeuvre which involves driving in tight circles at speed, leaving a circular rubber mark on the road.

Coun McCabe added: “Hopefully it will come to an end now and these measures are successful in alleviating the situation.”

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