‘YEARS’ of motorists using a stretch of road for illegal racing in souped-up cars must finally end, according to fed-up locals who have called on authorities to finally act.
The A628 - which connects Cudworth to Shafton - has allegedly become a meeting point for boy racers conducting rounbdabout-to-roundabout night-time races.
The road, which opened in 2010, has a 60mph limit but concerns have been raised at local police meetings that it’s being completely ignored as motorists race in so-called time trials.
The situation - which will be discussed at a police meeting in Grimethorpe next month - has been likened to scenes which occurred just several miles down the road in Hemsworth when a large congregation of boy racers, the majority of whom were from Barnsley, used straighter sections to record how fast they could go.
Tragedy struck in 2015 when four youngsters were killed when a car lost control at 144mph.
Cudworth resident Sarah Sidebottom said: “I have formally reported the ongoing and dangerous illegal street racing in Cudworth, specifically around the bypass, then through the village and back to the bypass.
“This has been a blight on our community for quite a few years, yet the current response from authorities remains wholly inadequate.
“I have recently contacted the police regarding these events and the response was that they would simply ‘move them on’.
“As a local resident, I find this unacceptable - moving drivers from one street to another is a temporary sticking plaster that fails to address the criminality of the situation.
“The authorities are failing to issue the formal warnings required to trigger vehicle seizures.
“I am requesting that the council and police shift to a zero-tolerance policy where every participant is issued a Section 59 warning, leading to immediate seizure upon their return.
“Participation in a race or trial of speed on a public highway is a criminal offence.
“Dispersing a criminal act is not the same as enforcing the law - these individuals should be facing prosecution and vehicle forfeiture, not a polite request to leave the area.
“Given that this is a long-term issue, I am demanding that Barnsley Council implements a public space protection order (PSPO) for the Cudworth area.
“This would allow for on-the-spot fines and more robust enforcement against anyone attending these ‘meets’, regardless of whether they are seen moving at the time.
“The residents of Cudworth deserve more than a dispersal policy that essentially permits the behaviour to continue elsewhere.
“We require a co-ordinated enforcement strategy that results in the removal of these vehicles from our roads.
“I look forward to a formal response detailing why vehicle seizures are not currently being prioritised and what the council’s long-term plan is to end this years-long disturbance.”
Section 59 warnings - which are part of the Police Reform Act - can be issued to drivers whose behaviour behind the wheel causes alarm, distress or annoyance to members of the public.
“This warning is placed against both the driver and the vehicle and lasts for 12 months,” a police spokesperson added.
“The driver doesn’t always have to be issued with a warning first in order for their vehicle to be seized due to the way in which it being driven.
“This has been an ongoing situation with performance cars meeting up in very large numbers, using the bypass as a race track.
“Excess speed and drifting displays have occurred, creating risks to other road users along with associated noise nuisance.
“South Yorkshire Police and Barnsley Council will not tolerate such disruption to the road network positive action will be taken to prevent further disruption and nuisance in the borough.”
