Barrier measures at supermarket in bid to stop Black Country boy racers

Complaints have been made about groups gathering at Aldi in Moxley at night and then racing along the Black Country New Road.

The store just off the High Street has agreed to take action to stop motorists congregating at the car park and comes as police are looking to get an injunction to tackle car cruising in the Black Country.

There have been long-standing issues in Moxley, particularly on Sunday evenings after the store has shut, as the racers and crowds meet and gather at the island.

Darlaston South councillor Chris Bott has been pushing for action in a bid to tackle the issue.

Police have been carrying out operations in the area and it is hoped the action by Aldi will further alleviate the problem.

"We are pleased about it," Councillor Bott said. "I am just glad they have come on board and hopefully it will solve it.

"The boy racers are going to have nowhere to meet, they currently all gather there.

"We get hundreds pulling on there and they all congregate on a Sunday and Bank Holiday when the store has shut.

"There is nowhere else in Moxley they can meet."

Aldi spokeswoman Kimberley Bull said: "Having listened to the concerns of local residents, we can confirm that we are working to install a new barrier at the entrance of the car park at our Moxley store. We estimate that the new barrier will be in place in six weeks."

The final details of an injunction aimed at stopping car cruising in the streets of the Black Country car are being drawn up.

All four Black Country councils are teaming up to apply to the High Court for an injunction which could see people who participate in or watch car cruising events jailed for up to two years.

Similar powers were brought into force in Cannock, near to Orbital and Linkway retail parks, to tackle the problem of boy racers. And police chiefs said it had made an impact.