A GROUP of residents are celebrating after they succesfully stamped out antisocial behaviour in a Benfleet car park.

The residents took on the running of the WRVS car park, in Richmond Avenue, after yob drivers started congregating there to play loud music and perform wheel spins late at night.

A £2,000 gate was installed at the entrance to the car park in July, since when there have been no reports of trouble.

Residents operate a rota to open and close the gate, which is closed between 8pm and 8am, every day.

Andrew Sheldon, councillor for St Mary’s Ward, said: “This was the first project I became part of when I became a councillor, so I think it is great it has come to fruition and has had a real impact.

“When we as councillors can’t provide the solution, we must provide the capacity for residents to find their own.”

The gate is opened and locked by six local residents and carpentry business AJ Smith and Son on the High Road.

The gate was funded by the Benfleet Neighbourhood Forum after early efforts to get Castle Point Council to install a barrier failed because they could not afford to pay someone to lock it.

A solution came when people in the area volunteered to take responsibility for the barrier.

Police still carry out patrols in the area, but PC Paul Levene, neighbourhood constable for Benfleet, said residents had done a great job.

He said: “This gate has made a huge difference and has really lessened our workload in that area.”