Police helicopter called in 'boy racer' concerns

Fuming residents phoned West Midlands Police and their councillors for help after crowds were spotted congregating in Moxley, it has emerged.

People in the area have called for action to deal with speeding drivers and late night noise caused by groups who use the site.

Drivers were spotted in Queen Street, Burns Road, Black Country Route, Wilkinson Road and near the Moorcroft Wood beauty spot.

Councillor Chris Bott, of Darlaston South ward, said efforts were being made to put off motorists from going into the town to park up and display cars, but there were difficulties.

The latest gathering happened on June 1,

"We began getting calls from residents about midnight complaining about drivers coming into the area. They started arriving about 8pm and as the evening went on the numbers just got higher and higher.

"There were hundreds people there. They were parked on the Aldi car park and just as many spectators turned up to watch, including families with children.

"We're really worried that these gatherings are putting people's lives at risk.

"One gentleman told me as he was driving home to Moxley along the Black Country Route about 9pm he got really worried because he thought an overtaking car would run him off the road. He lives in Queen Street so had to contend with the noise until after 1am.

"This is just not fair on residents when these drivers come into our area. People have to get their sleep. One lady I spoke to gets up a 4am because of her early shifts," councillor Bott said.

She said: "I handled about 12 phone calls from residents during the course of the night up until after 1am. The force helicopter came and hovered above the area to capture number plate details. Letters will be sent to the drivers warning them that they had been spotted at the scene and they should not congregate in the area."

Councillor Bott said the neighbourhood policing team and staff from Walsall's area partnership were working with people in the area and supermarket chain Aldi to resolve the issues.

She said moves were in hand to see if a barrier could be installed at the entrance to the store's car park to prevent it being used after closing time.

Around 1,300 residents fed up of being kept awake by noisy motorists who gather in their droves near their homes have signed a petition calling for action against them.

Car drivers have been meeting every Sunday night near the Aldi store, in Burns Road, and driving at high speed along the A463Black Country Route and the A41.

There have been ongoing reports of groups meeting up there since the start of the year.

Councillors want action to stop the problems after residents claimed that car drivers were travelling at high speeds.

West Midlands Police Crime Commissioner Bob Jones has pledged to support their efforts to tackle the problem. He has backed their calls for CCTV cameras.

The Walsall Council has also joined forces with Wolverhampton, Sandwell and Dudley to apply for a high court injunction to ban the activity.