Any motorist caught causing a nuisance in Medway could now be “named and shamed” as well as being fined and taken to court.
Medway Council and are working with police to enforce a new Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) with extra patrols across the Towns in a move which went live on April 1.
The new powers will enable the authorities to act swiftly to crackdown on irresponsible drivers.
It’s been revealed this could include naming and shaming repeat offenders and seizing vehicles with the council hoping to create a “culture in the community” that people who do this behaviour will be challenged.
Offences, ranging from playing loud music, revving engines, and performing stunts, will result in an on-the-spot £100 fine and police could confiscate their vehicles with Section 59 orders.
The authority are also training up more enforcement officers to monitor key problem areas.
People living near Barnfield Recreation Ground in Chatham have been calling for more action for years and say anti-social bikers have been using dogs and walkers like obstacles on a race track.
An X account, @BarnhamBikes, has been sharing images of people riding motorcycles on the park since December 2022 and challenging Medway Council to tackle the issue.
But the owner of the account says this is an issue it has been raising for 15 years and action has been too slow.
They said: “These bikes/quads have caused huge damage to the field and present a health and safety hazard.
“They ride at ridiculously dangerous speeds on the recreation ground and on the public footpaths and have no regard for the children, families and dog walkers using the field.
“There have been incidents where dogs and users of the field have been clipped by bikes, causing injury. If you try and say something to the riders they just hurl abuse at you.
“The introduction of the PSPO has been a hard fought battle by residents. The lack of urgency to do something is disappointing.”
According to residents some “hastily put together” temporary signage has now been put at some entrances but they are still awaiting permanent signs promised.
“Likewise, residents were promised additional CCTV at the far end of the field, this has yet to materialise. Residents feel let down,” they added.
“So far we’ve seen little impact from the PSPO. For it to be effective it actually needs continual enforcement by Medway Council and the police.”
One resident said they had been put off using the park to walk their dog because of the bikers.
They said: “I did at one point stop coming to this field to walk the dog because of the noise of those bikes whizzing around.
“There are some good pictures of people that are committing these offences on bikes, and I think that you could easily identify them.
“A lot of them seem to be of school age, so I’d get the council to link in with the local schools and I think just proactive work within the schools, rather than going down and naming and shaming, would be better.”
Another added: “I think they’re dangerous, especially when you’ve got the children’s play park, and then there’s dogs, and they’re just riding up and down. No consideration for the animals.
“They need a track, I think, where they can go and do that sort of thing,
“I just worry about my safety and the safety of my dog and sometimes I come here with my granddaughter, and she’s only three, and then I have to worry about her as well.”
In October, Medway Council approved the plans to create a Medway-wide PSPO to tackle the problem of nuisance drivers, including motorbikes on fields.
Cllr Tris Osborne, portfolio holder for community safety and enforcement, believes this will help.
He explained: “Medway Council is investing in new cameras, dash cams, and training our staff to issue community protection notices, so the council and the police can now fine individuals for these behaviours.
“This PSPO also means we can issue fines more quickly across the borough now.”
However, the Labour councillor warned it would take time to “change the culture” to put off nuisance behaviour.
He added: “We’ve had nuisance vehicles in Medway for 50 years. This is just one tool which we hope will change the culture.
“We will work in partnership with the police and you’ll see hopefully a naming and shaming of key people who’ve been doing this so we can get that culture in the community that people who do this behaviour will be challenged.”
The Medway Tories, who began the process of looking into a PSPO in February 2023 under the last administration, support the suggestion of naming repeat offenders, but asked why the implementation had taken so long.
Cllr Habib Tejan (Con) said: “I’m a bit frustrated it took so long for this to be initiated, we had this at full council back in October and it’s been going at a slow pace, really.
“This sends out a strong message to those who think they can break the law and behave irresponsibly and naming and shaming hopefully will prevent some of them from carrying on this sort of attitude.”
