Anti-social behaviour from regular car meets prompted Wokingham residents to organise protest in Wokingham multi-story.

The protest was co-organised by a local councillor and Wokingham residents who are 'sick and tired' of the level of noise coming from near-by drift races.

Residents gathered in Carnival Pool multi-story carpark this Saturday at 2pm to put their point across to the local executive.

One onlooker said that during the protest, a driver that was creating a disturbance during the protest, was later arrested for driving without insurance.

He said: “The police blocked the entrance to the car park so that drivers were unable to leave.

“You couldn’t help but sympathise with local residents when you hear the amount of noise is made.”

Bracknell News:

Local Wokingham councillor Maria Gee, who is co-organiser of the protest said: “We’re holding the demo because car meets have been going on for more than two years now and the late-night noise, week after week, is tantamount to an assault upon residents each weekend.

“The homes in which residents are prisoners are not places of refuge because the car meets are so close, scary and disruptive.”

A spokesperson for the borough council said: “While we support the right of all residents to lawfully protest, our number one priority is public safety.

“There will be a police presence at the protest to enforce the law and keep the public safe.”

Councillor Pauline Jorgensen, the council's lead for transport, said the authority was setting up a new anti-social behaviour enforcement team.

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She added she hoped consensus could be reached to extend the car park's opening hours so more enforcement powers could be used.

A small crowd of 50 people were said to have gathered at the protest including green party councillor Andy Cunningham.