SPEED restrictions have been called for in a bid to tackle nuisance bikers who are “putting lives in danger” in Thurrock.

Resident Neil Pickett is set to call on the council to take measures against high powered bikes and quad bikes.

In a question which he will put to Victoria Holloway, councillor responsible for place and environment at a council meeting on Thursday, Mr Pickett said: “Residents on London Road in Stanford-le-Hope suffer regular disturbance from speeding, high-powered and noisy vehicles including bikes and quad bikes.

“Although residents recognise the service offered to our local community, late at night and at weekends, a meeting point for these vehicles appears to be the petrol station and shops. What measures can the council take to impose speed and noise restrictions in this area to ensure the safety and additional comfort for local residents?”

Nuisance bikers and quad bikers have caused problems across the borough and have prompted police to acquire quad bikes of their own in order to tackle the issue.

Mr Pickett’s bid for safer streets is backed by Neil Speight, Independent councillor for Stanford-le-Hope West.

He said: “There is an issue on London Road of regular speeding by bikers, quad bikers and high-powered customised cars.

“I’ll be honest and say it’s not as prevalent as it might be in some areas of the borough but this is a residential road where pedestrian paths areas are regularly accessed by older children attending St Clere’s and parents and younger children going in the opposite directions to Stanford primary. And, as it’s close to the railway station, there are a lot of adults on there to.

“Mr Pickett has made the point that not only is the issue a danger to life and limb, the noise that is caused, particularly in the evenings, disrupts residents’ peace as well.”

Mr Speight added: “What I think most residents would like to see is some sort of preventative measure to slow the traffic down, and thereby reducing the noise too, and the obvious answer would be a speed camera as a deterrent for the length of London Road, probably ideally placed near the Rayleigh Road junction.

“The problem with getting speed cameras installed is that there usually has to be a death or a number of incidents before anyone acts. Perhaps the alternative is a 20mph limit, but the current offenders will probably just ignore that if there’ no fear of getting caught.”

Ms Holloway has been asked to comment.