By Lisa Ramsden
Exasperated residents say they have no faith in the council or police resolving antisocial behaviour in Newcastle. The problem at Donard car park has been long-running and, with the issues escalating even further over the Christmas and New Year holidays, locals say they are at a loss as to why the appropriate resources are not deployed and measures installed to address the issue.
It is almost three months since the council, which operates the site, installed large concrete blocks at the entrance to an overflow car park. This was prompted after at least one vehicle rammed through fencing and was driven onto a football pitch, but since then no work has been done on the ground to try and resolve the issue.
The loss of the overflow parking spaces had a knock-on effect over the holidays, meaning that with fewer spaces available during the day, the motorists involved in the antisocial behaviour were unable to access the busy main car park until late at night. Antisocial driving and related problems were escalating late at night, and well into the early hours, local people told the Mourne Observer.
One man, whose parents live in the vicinity of the car park, said the revving of engines, spinning of tyres, and backfiring was taking place “from midnight right through to the wee hours”.
“It’s just appalling, no-one should be subjected to this terrifying noise,” he said, adding that the “apparent inability by the powers that be” to resolve the saga is “inexcusable”.
Describing the situation as “ridiculous,” he told the paper that the sudden noises coming from the manner in how cars are being driven “has left my parents jumping out of their skin!” He added: “We are told to call the police there and then and let them know what’s happening.
“But nothing is being done. People are being let down. Us locals can practically predict when the racers are going to land into the car park, so if we can do it, then why can’t the police come in and monitor what’s happening? It just feels like those who are breaking the law are the winners.”
In the full article more residents had their say on the issue, with one explaining that there had been a glimmer of hope.
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