After what appeared to be a positive improvement in the issue of late night speeding, revving and the use of “loud exhausts” one Armagh resident has complained that the issue persists at an infamous carpark long plagued by bothersome vehicular gatherings.
Armagh I previously reported on the issue of cars speeding, revving and displaying “loud exhausts” along the Cathedral Road and Shambles area of the city after one resident wrote this publication a letter detailing the stress the late night disruptions were causing.
Following publication of that article, the same individual sent another, much more positive letter stating that there had been a welcome improvement as of late.
However, another member of the public entered our office last week to say that the problem is far from resolved…
The resident of the Shambles area explained that there are several cars continuing to “line-up” at the Lonsdale carpark at the weekends where they could stay from 5.30pm in the evening until 3am in the morning.
While in the carpark, he says they “rev their engines, toot their horns and their exhausts fire off”.
He said the issue has been occurring for at least a year, off and on, and has even captured video of the cars gathering and causing a nuisance.
The resident said he’s suffering with sleep and generally “doesn’t feel safe” in his home adding, “you just don’t know if they will still be there at 5am in the morning when you get up.
“Sometimes there could be a dozen cars there and then they park up for a while and one car might try to out-do another car by revving louder than the ones beside it. This goes on for hours and then they will leave and do a circle lap up around the Shambles and come back again”.
Police in Armagh have confirmed, however, that they have recently carried out a “multi-agency operation” in response to ongoing reports of anti-social behaviour and dangerous driving in the vicinity of the Lonsdale Road car park.
Local officers from Armagh were joined by colleagues from the Interceptor Team, the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) and An Garda Síochána (AGS) to carry out the operation.
Vehicle checkpoints were established on Lonsdale Road and cross the wider district on Saturday May 17. Cross-border checkpoints were also in place, with officers maintaining direct communication with colleagues in AGS throughout.
As a result of the operation, two drivers were arrested during the course of patrols. One man was arrested for driving with excess alcohol in breath and a second man was arrested for driving while unfit through drugs.
Additionally, one man was cautioned for driving a vehicle in a dangerous condition.
Sergeant Duffin said: “We were aware of concerns around anti-social behaviour and dangerous driving through our continued engagement with the community, businesses and local representatives.
“High-visibility patrols will continue in the area as we work to deter further incidents. The safety of road users and the wellbeing of the local community remain our top priority.”
Officers would also continue to encourage anyone with information that could lead to the detection and prosecution of offenders to contact them on the non-emergency number 101.
