POLICE are expected to have a presence when 100 or more modified cars and their drivers descend on a town centre car park tomorrow.
A group called Yorkshire Motors has organised the event on the Courthouse car park, due to start at 7.30pm. A similar event attracted some trouble a month ago.
The event is billed as 'yet another huge meet' but after want happened last time will be 'strictly static' - meaning no wheel spins or racing. Organisers wrote on the Facebook page that they were very disappointed following the last event in Barnsley on July 2 when people had flouted the meet's rules resulting in a crash, and one attendee being physically assaulted.
One of the organisers Matty Royston told the Chronicle the police would be attending Sunday's meeting to 'ensure everything remains safe and organised'.
"With our last meet a lot of people turned up," he said. "We do put warnings out that they are static meets, this means no wheel spins, racing etc.
"Anyone who ignores this rule is warned once, if the behaviour continues they are reported and banned from the next event.
"We have created these meets to bring people together who share the same interests. Some people go to the pub, some people go out for a meal. We gather together with our cars to make a friendly society and a community for us with the interest of modifying motors.
"We are aware of what happened at the last meet and can reassure you that our future meets will be under close watch by the people running the group and we are currently in the process of looking for a bigger plot to hold our meets.
"Yorkshire Motors is growing surprisingly quickly, and most of the people who attend respect the area and are simply there to share a common hobby and interest. We do take into consideration the people around the areas, which is why we use the spot selected as it isn't close to any residential areas and with it being in the town centre it is out of the way so we try not to disrupt the people of the area."
Barnsley Council said: "We want the town centre to be a welcoming place for everyone and do not condone this sort of event.
"Permission for the event has not been granted by the council. South Yorkshire Police will issue official warnings to any vehicles failing to drive in accordance with the rules of the road.
"We work closely with the Police and will take action against anyone causing nuisance in the town centre. The car park is subject to ongoing monitoring, and the lower car park is locked at night to prevent access."
