New dispersal zones give car cruisers no place in Basildon

Car cruisers will be given their marching orders throughout Basildon thanks to two new dispersal zones which give police the power to give them direction to leave.


The dispersal zones will come in force on Sunday, May 1, 2011 and will be in place until at least October this year.

Car cruising has been an issue affecting some parts of Basildon for a number of years, and with the implementation of these dispersal zones, it means police have extra powers under the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 to deal with any drivers behaving in an anti-social way.

This will be welcome news to particular businesses in Bentalls Industrial Estate, who, since early 2010, have suffered as a result of car cruisers meeting and racing on the roads of the industrial estate. The cost of cleaning up the damage and litter caused by drivers meeting there had a negative effect on all of the businesses.

Above: Dispersal order notice

The first dispersal zone encompasses Uppermayne; the A127 stretch to Pound Lane; Burnt Mills Road and Cranes Farm Road. The second zone includes south from the B1464; Hazelmere to Sadlers Farm roundabout; west from Sadlers Farm roundabout to the A13; north from the A13/Sadlers Farm to Pitsea Hall Lane; east from Hazelmere to the B1464. All roads and car parks within the two dispersal zones are also included.

Basildon district commander, Chief Insp Rachel Nolan, said: "Car cruising has historically been a problem in this area, as the large industrial estates within Basildon gives cruisers long stretches of road, and numerous car parks to gather in. In the past, this has had a detrimental effect on local businesses, so we are pre-empting problems of previous years and instigating the dispersal zones that we used last year.

"We want people to enjoy all that Basildon has to offer when they visit here, but if you come here, break the law and behave in an anti-social way, make no mistake that we will deal with you within the full extent of the law, and these dispersal zones give us the extra powers needed to do that.”

Bala Mahendran, Chair of the Basildon Community Safety Partnership and Chief Executive of Basildon Council, added: "This is an excellent example of partnership working and these new powers are a welcome addition in our fight against anti-social behaviour.

"I hope the new dispersal zones will help put a stop to anti-social drivers causing disruption to our residents and local businesses. We want Basildon to remain a great place to live, work and do business and those who continue to cause a nuisance will be dealt with accordingly.”