For many years residents living near the Station Road car park in Devizes have been plagued by antisocial behaviour by people meeting in cars. Last month a resident was hospitalised after being hit by a car, and a number of people have since been arrested.
Following a meeting with councillors and residents at the scene last week, I met yesterday with members from the Devizes Council, Wiltshire Council and Wiltshire Police. We discussed a variety of short, medium and long-term options that can be implemented to stop this behaviour. These include:
Short-term:
- Wiltshire Council will attempt to obtain a Closure Order for the coach/lorry side of the car park to prevent any access between 6pm and 6am. This will last for three months. We should find out whether this has been successful by the end of the week. During these three months, a more permanent solution can be found.
Medium-term:
- CCTV – Wiltshire Council have successfully bid for funding for CCTV and are currently making plans to install the equipment at Station Road.
- Barriers – costings (both in terms of infrastructure and associated manpower) for this will be investigated, bearing in mind the need for vandal-resistant barriers. If necessary, it might be possible for these to be operated by Devizes Town Council should they require manual operation. We must also be mindful that this carpark is important to residents and those who work in the town and use it lawfully.
Long-term:
- Total redesign of the car park to prevent its use as a racetrack. This could also provide opportunities for increasing planting/green spaces and could be, at least in part, funded through local investment.
I would like to meet with residents again at the beginning of September, when we should all have a better idea of costings/options and, I hope, a good idea about how best to proceed. This will likely be in the Town Hall and will include members of Devizes Council, Wiltshire Council and the Police.
