BOY RACERS have relocated their meets to get around a legal order which banned drivers from gathering at historic car cruising hotspots.

In April of last year, a Public Spaces Protection Order came into force in Basildon prohibiting car cruising in Pitsea town centre, Cranes Farm Road, Festival Leisure Park, Pipps Hill and Mayflower Retail Park.

Those who break the rules risk official warnings or a £100 – with repeat offenders liable to have to pay £1,000 fines.

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Despite only one fixed penalty notice being issued for car cruising since the order was implemented, the increased police presence and powers to mover on drivers has reduced incidents of car cruising, the council says.

However, boy racers have since relocated their meets to Seax Way and Fenton Way in Laindon – roads which are not covered by the order.

“It was always going to be a game of cat and mouse with the boy racers,” Independent group leader councillor Kerry Smith said.

“They will always move onto the next area where it is allowed and we will be forever stuck behind them trying to catch up.”

After a car meet in Luckyn Lane – attended by more than 1,000 people – was broken up in September, organisers took to Facebook groups to highlight the rules of the PSPO and call for all further events to be held in Laindon.

Basildon Council is preparing to extend the PSPO to cover the areas of Laindon drivers are currently congregating in.

In the last six months, there have been six reports of cruises and races in the area.

On October 19 of last year there were reports of 20-30 vehicles in Seax Way, with the council requesting police assistance as it was not manageable to ticket all the vehicles. Police attended and dispersed the vehicles.

On November 4 and 27, members of the public complained drivers were racing along Fenton Way.

On December 21, police were called to reported of six vehicles racing “with one almost hitting a parked grey vehicle”.

On January 25 there were further reports of racing around the industrial estate with drivers reportedly “drifting around the roundabout the wrong way”, council documents reveal.

On February 1 police attended a meet were there were approximately 100 vehicles in attendance and were “out of control” – a dispersal order was issued, and drivers were moved on.