New measures to combat boy racers

Miles Jermy

NEW measures are being taken in a bid to put the brake on boy racers along Great Yarmouth seafront.

Groups of so called Jetty Boys have made a beeline for Marine Parade and South Beach Road for many years.

Now a Home Zone has been created in a bid to deal with long standing complaints from residents about disturbances caused by young drivers.

The latest in a long line of initiatives, the Home Zone has been set up by the South Yarmouth Safer Neighbourhood Team with support from Comeunity Forum.

Signs have gone up along South Beach Parade asking drivers not to rev engines, skid, screech brakes or play loud music.

Inspector Nick Cheshire, from South Yarmouth SNT, said the move represented a 'softly softly' approach to the issue.

He said: “We want to get the lads to co-operate by taking a more measured approach rather than being too threatening.”

Previous clampdowns have involved vehicle checks and a red card scheme to tackle anti-social behaviour.

The Golden Mile has been a popular place for boy racers to congregate in often customised cars for around two decades.

Long suffering residents have complained repeatedly off being disturbed by dangerous driving, loud music from car stereos and headlights being shone into their houses.

Nelson ward borough councillor Michael Jeal said he was sceptical that the warning signs would do anything to curb the boy racers' behaviour.

He added: “The police do not have the time and resources do deal with it and putting signs up is not going to be the solution.

“This has been going on for nearly 20 years and is happening right throughout the week, particularly in the winter when the parking bays are empty.

“Boy racers are coming from as far afield as Kings Lynn and Cambridge -most are in their teens and 20s but some are older and several are female.”