‘Sorry chair, I couldn’t hear you - the boy racers are in town again’

Coun Richard Barker maintains the issue is worse than ever and has called on specially trained traffic officers to ‘blitz the town.’

Coun Barker highlighted the problem after struggling to take part in a debate during an online town council meeting last week.

Indicating he wanted to make a comment, Coun Barker could be heard saying “Who’s speaking? Is it me?”

Town mayor Coun Fiona Martin assured Mr Barker it was his turn to speak and he replied: “Sorry, I couldn’t hear you chair...the boy racers are in town again!”

Earlier in the meeting, PCSO Nigel Wass told councillors officers had changed shift patterns and staged extra patrols after complaints about the boy racers from Coun Barker and other residents.

PCSO Wass said there had been in improvement and confirmed a Section 19 notice had been served on one driver who could be prosecuted and have his vehicle taken from him, if he causes further problems.

However, Coun Barker hit back and said: “From my personal point of view,and living in the town, despite what Nigel says, it ain’t getting better....it’s getting worse.

“At the end of the day, somebody is going to get hurt.

“Every night, we have incidents one of two boy racers in and around the town centre.

“They want taking off the road.

“You (PCSO Wass) have written to me saying officers are doing different hours to try and find the culprits but they (officers) are on foot.

“Where are the highway traffic boys to blitz the town two or three times a week?

“These people are causing issues - not only speeding.

“Catch them and arrest them.”

Coun Alan Lockwood also said boy racers were still a problem and questioned why police were asking the public to report offences when officers should be gathering evidence themselves.

PCSO Wass was adamant the situation had improved and said police needed the public to report incidents so resources could be allocated appropriately.

He told the meeting the public could report offences by uploading videos to a new on-line portal.

Coun Dominic Hinkins said it was unfair to criticise police, adding: “They are spread extremely thinly as a result of the cuts over the last ten years. We should bare that in mind.”

*Police have issued Covid-19 penalties to what is understood to be four drivers of 4X4 vehicles for breaking lockdown regulations in Goulceby last Monday evening.

PCSO Wass said the drivers had ‘come from all over Lincolnshire’ and were caught ‘racing up and down’ a road in the village.