Residents will work with police to tackle 'crisis' in Cambridge neighbourhood

It follows a six-vehicle crash in Fen Road that was said to have been the result of street racing.

Residents are banding together to tackle the anti-social behaviour “crisis” in the area around Fen Road, Cambridge.

They met with police, councillors and the city council’s safer communities team last week to discuss ways to tackle the issues, with one attendant saying that if police “cannot seriously change the behaviour of some of the drivers on Fen Road you will be investigating a fatality”.

“There’s a crisis going on here,” a resident said. “The problem has been that for the last 20 years very little has been done in response to our ongoing complaints.”

Another resident added: “I’ve reported a lot of incidents and not once has there been an outcome that resulted in anything to speak of, including reports of a repeat offender who has taken it upon himself to attack and abuse me at any opportunity.”

Inspector Paul Rogerson told residents: “We have an ECOP system, which stands for East Chesterton on Patrol. It started here, it’s a system that the entire constabulary use now and it’s not being used well enough in Cambridge.”

He said that while he could not speak specifically of the street racing incident, because the investigation is ongoing, police cuts are not a reason for the increase of incidents in the area, and that the root cause needed to be tackled by being “designed out”.

However, Lib Dem county councillor Ian Manning said a road redesign would not be effective: “When we’re talking about maniacs who drive at 80-90mph there is no effective form of speedbump you can leave in a road that will deal with them.”

He said only a width restriction would help but, because there are lorries that drive to and from the sewage works, it’s not an option. The proposals to move the sewage works could provide “some hope”, he added.

City council representatives committed to working with the district to improve matters.

It was agreed that continued communication between the groups could help, and a residents meeting is being planned to continue liaising with the police.