Antisocial driving 'problematic and unsettling'

A West Sussex county councillor has said that persistent antisocial driving on two A-roads in Horsham is "problematic and very unsettling for a lot of people".

Residents are concerned about late night antisocial driving on both the A24, which has Southwater to the west, and the A264 between Horsham and Crawley, which is a key road for Kilnwood Vale, Faygate and Colgate.

Alex Jeffery, who represents Southwater and Nuthurst, believes the police "do not have the resources" to address the issue and that "racers have cottoned on to that".

Ch Insp James Davidson, from Sussex Police, said the force is aware of the concerns raised and will "pursue prosecutions against drivers we can identify".

Ash Blakemore and his family, who live just off the A264 near the Kilnwood Vale roundabout, are among those affected.

Blakemore and his wife were "particularly attracted to how quiet we thought it was", but said they were soon proven wrong "when it came to the summer months".

"The racers would congregate on the [Kilnwood Vale] roundabout... they would be whizzing up and down the A264 constantly, to the early hours of the morning," he said.

The couple have two young children, a three-and-a-half-year-old daughter and a son aged 18 months.

Blakemore said: "With them both being teeny, any loud noise would disturb their sleep... we've had to do plenty of insulating the bedroom for the kids, just so they can get a good night's sleep."

While clear that there has been "more police intervention" this summer than "we've ever had", the gather-of-two said he believes the punishments could be stronger.

A petition to stop street racing on the A24 and A264 was started by the Horsham Liberal Democrats in May together with councillors from Southwater, Kilnwood Vale and Faygate.

Horsham MP, John Milne, said he pushed Sussex Police to make this issue a Community Safety Partnership "priority" and is also pressing for additional CCTV on the Kilnwood Vale roundabout.

"We need consistent, and practical measures to prevent this disruptive activity, and I will continue to push for action."

Ch Insp Davidson said: "Our Neighbourhood Policing Teams have been working in partnership with our Roads Policing Unit and Fatal Five Unit to deter dangerous driving and to prosecute offenders.

"We have also issued Community Protection Warnings that require those identified to change a pattern of behaviour if it is negatively impacting on the local community's quality of life."

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