STANFORD West councilors Shane Hebb and Terry Piccolo joined Essex Police and Thurrock Council officials on Tuesday 7 December to patrol their community; especially around Stanford Park and Butts Lane, the billet field. The routes used to pass through St. Margaret’s have also been reviewed.
The discussion focused on the ongoing harassment of off-road and illegal motorcycle and quad activities that residents and users of local green spaces have to encounter too often – and the next steps to further address the problem.
Commenting on the tour, Cllr Hebb said, “Terry and I have been reporting issues for a long time and we met with Essex Police and Thurrock Council this summer to discuss ideas on how to stop bikers, the police to escape when reported and seen. We also received a lot of support from Cllr Rob Gledhill, who helped forge the positive effort between the police and the local council. Not only is the noise an issue, but also public safety – I was recently walking through a green space at the station when a motorcyclist decided on a normal Sunday afternoon to drive by less than 2m past me. Had he or she lost control, at least one of us would have been badly injured – and that happens to many residents and families in the area and needs to stop.
“There are some good plans to fight this fight. On the tour we saw the efforts commercial property owners are making to stop break-ins and the use of their land; and access to public land through their property. Stanford-le-Hope has been high in the priority areas for police officers, largely thanks to local residents reporting this issue. either directly to the police or through us as local councilors. This has helped police officers closely monitor this off-road activity – and as the new plans take shape, this information will be very helpful in further making a difference. “
Cllr Piccolo said, “We encourage all residents who observe unsafe, illegal off-road driving to report to 101. ”
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