Llanelli MP, Dame Nia Griffith, is urging Carmarthenshire County Council and Dyfed Powys Police to install acoustic speed cameras in the fight against ongoing anti-social behaviour in North Dock, Llanelli.
The cameras, which combine a microphone array with a traditional camera system, capture footage of any vehicles that pass them which exceed a set decibel level and have been used successfully in other parts of the UK to reduce nuisance driving, unnecessary revving of engines and the use of illegally modified vehicles.
The MP’s call comes in response to complaints from residents living close to North Dock car park which is being used at night time as a makeshift racetrack and gathering point for those set on causing disruption.
Dame Nia is now calling on the council and the police to toughen their enforcement in the area and to introduce a range of new measures to tackle the problem.
She said:
“This behaviour in North Dock has been a big concern for several years and it is unfair to those residents nearby who are having to bear the brunt of it.”
“Back in 2022 when acoustic cameras were first trialled in the UK, I campaigned for North Dock to be included in the pilot scheme as the issues we are seeing there today were exactly the same then.”
The pilot schemes, which eventually took place in Yorkshire, Bristol, Birmingham and Great Yarmouth, showed that the cameras can be an effective tool not only in detecting and prosecuting nuisance drivers but also in deterring problems in the first place. That is why Dyfed Powys Police and Carmarthenshire County Council now need to do all they can to get them introduced into the North Dock area too.”
“There are other pro-active, common-sense things like introducing bollards into the car park to reduce the likelihood of it being used as a racetrack and installing barriers to reduce access at night times that can also be done too which would make a huge difference.
“This has dragged on for far too long. Residents and local businesses need to be listened to and firmer action taken to stop this problem once and for all.”