Restrictions on Car Cruise Events in Scarborough Extended

Wednesday, 8 September 2021 07:06

By Matthew Pells with additional reporting from Carl Gavaghan, Local Democracy Reporter

Unauthorised Car Cruise events wont be allowed in the Scarborough Borough for the next three years.

Scarborough Borough Council has approved a three year extension to measures to prevent unauthorised car cruise events taking place.

The Public Space Protection Order was introduced in 2018 after one car cruise event caused £50,000 worth of damage to Marine Drive and Royal Albert Drive.

Councillor Carl Maw says the PSPO doesn't stop properly organised events from taking place.

Car cruises to Scarborough seafront had been a common sight in the town for many years but relations between the clubs and North Yorkshire Police and Scarborough Council soured in 2017 after £50,000 worth of damage was caused to Royal Albert Drive following an event.

The then newly resurfaced road was left shredded with melted rubber stuck to the tarmac near the Oasis Cafe after a driver “burnt out” their tyres, the driver was later prosecuted. The following year the PSPO was brought in and cruises have since been banned.

The three year extension had been backed by North Yorkshire County Council, North Yorkshire Police and North Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner.

Councillor Carl Maw says properly licenced events can take place but the extended PSPO will enable fines to be issued to anyone promoting or taking part in an unauthorised event.

The extended PSPO makes it an offence for a person to take part in, attend or even promote a car cruise, without a reasonable excuse.
Fixed Penalty Notices of £100 can be issued with fines of up to £1,000 also available to anyone breaking the order.

It means any driver in a group of two or more who is posing a risk to other road users, playing loud music or is deemed to be taking part in anti-social behaviour could fall foul of the legislation.