THERE have been more reports of car meets in a Sainsbury's carpark after automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) has failed to act as a deterrent.

As previously reported an online petition started by resident Mark Burrows stated that the carpark of Sainsbury’s in Wallop Drive, Basingstoke has become an increasingly popular late-night meeting place for car enthusiasts.

Mark said that on an “almost nightly occurrence” at around 9.30pm residents in the area are bothered by “intense engine revving” as well as doughnut stunts, wheelspins, and “loud unsociable music up to and often past midnight”.

SEE MORE: Resident starts petition to stop anti-social car meets in a Sainsbury’s car park

Following the petition, which amassed over 200 signatures a meeting was held in October 2021 to discuss the problems. It was decided that a temporary mobile ANPR would be installed with plans to keep a permanent one if it was successful in stopping the antisocial behaviour.

The meeting was attended by the store manager, facility management company Mitie, Hampshire Police and Cllr Stephen Reid (Conservative, Basingstoke South West), who has supported the petition.

Since then residents have taken to social media to complain about another car meet in the carpark, and racing on surrounding roads on Saturday, February 26.

County Cllr Stephen Reid has written to and spoken with Sainsbury's and the office of the police and crime commissioner to confirm whether their ANPR was in operation at the time, whether it gathered any information and whether they are liaising with the police.

He said: "I fully support the residents who rightly object when the drivers start performing stunts in the car park and racing along the local roads, as has been reported this time. That is completely unacceptable and anti-social.

"I had been hoping that the ANPR initiative might have controlled this problem, but it appears not. That is why I think a stakeholder meeting would be useful. In my opinion, the Sainsbury's and Mitie will need to consider physical measures to make the car park less attractive for meets of this kind."

Cllr Reid is suggesting for visible barriers to be used as a deterrent instead.

READ MORE: Automatic number plate recognition set for Sainsbury's car park after resident complaints

He added: “I woke up on Sunday morning to lots of social media messaging and from what I have been able to gather a lot of people between 50 and 100 were complaining about them racing around the carpark.

“It is disturbing and dangerous. I was given a high level of confidence that the ANPR would have an impact but that has now been dented and I am really disappointed that it has come back.

“I am angry that people can have such a disregard for people in the area.”

Hampshire Police have been contacted for comment.

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