08/12/04 - Cllr Tomlinson - Action Needed On Motorbikes

Fed up parents claim that their lives are being made a misery by unruly youngsters who regularly speed up and down the one-mile stretch of walkway between Abbey Meads and Penhill.

They fear unless action is taken now one of their children will be badly hurt.

Father-of-two Steve Dixon, 24, of Waggoner Close, said the noise had become unbearable. He warned his children's safety was at risk.

He said: "This behaviour is completely out of order. Something must be done now before there are any accidents.

"Everybody here has had enough. It has become so bad that some neighbours have actually moved out of the area.

"I moved here to bring up my family but I'm terrified to let my four-year-old boy Liam go outside.

"There are a group of teen-agers, probably about 15 to 17, who speed up and down on motorbikes. I know that a 500cc scrambler bike is used regularly.

"This happens as regular as eight or nine times a day. Not only does it wake us up at night but we can't let our children out to play."

Mr Dixon says he has alerted the police but they have done nothing about it.

Coun Justin Tomlinson said Swindon Borough Council would consider installing bollards.

"This issue has been highlighted by many residents in the area," he said.

"The behaviour of these teen-agers is totally unacceptable.

"I would like the police to seize their bikes and melt them down for scrap.

"The council will investigate the possibility of installing bollards but I would also like the police to take tough action.

"This is anti-social behaviour and as such should be dealt with in the correct way by placing Anti-Social Behaviour Orders on those guilty."

Sgt Robin Colbourne said: "We are aware of the problems of anti-social behaviour in the Abbey Meads area.

"Not only are these youths making life a misery for the residents they are also putting themselves and others in danger with their so called joy-riding activities.

"Residents have raised concerns and we have stepped up targeted patrols in the area.

"A number of official warning notices have been issued to youths riding motorcycles inappropriately and in contravention to road traffic legislation in the North Swindon area.

"We are working in partnership with Swindon Borough Council in an effort to resolve this problem to the satisfaction of all concerned.

"One of the options currently being discussed is the possibility of erecting a preventative barrier."