THE manager of the Meadows Shopping Centre has dismissed claims that 'boy racers' are causing a disturbance by using the complex's car park at weekends to show off their modified cars.
Adrian Farell was responding to claims made by a local man who contacted the Portadown Times this week.
The motorist, who did not wish to be named, said that he was "gob-smacked" by the number of rally-style sport cars he witnessed at the car park l
ate on Sunday evening.
"I was coming home from work and was asked to bring a McDonald's back. When I came to the junction of Bannview it was absolutely jammed packed with cars," he said.
"I'm not talking about 'ordinary' cars, I'm talking about Subarus, Lancias, BMWs. All top-notch cars being driven by young people who were 'burning out' their cars in the car park and then racing through the town – they were even taking pictures of them."
The motorist estimated that around 200 cars were present and criticised the police for failing to act. "The roar of the car exhausts was absolutely deafening," he said.
matter
"This was all going on a matter of yards from the police station; here we have a gang of lads driving top-of-the-range sports cars and road versions of rally cars and yet I didn't see a police officer go near them."
He added, "I had to wait 10 minutes to get my car out of the car park and by that time my food was cold."
The man said he spoke to an individual who revealed that it was a regular occurrence at the weekend. "I'd like to know if these cars are legal and how this can be done in a private car park which is locked at the Pleasure Gardens, yet the top half is left for these lads to do what they like."
However, addressing the man's complaints, Mr Farrell said that there was nothing to suggest that these drivers are creating problems for local people. "I've spoken to the manager at McDonald's and she said that there has never been an issue. She also said that police officers were close by in the vincinity.
"There's no evidence that anything anti-social is taking place. There's no sign of tyre track marks or 'doughnuts' and litter is non-existent in the car park," he explained.
The centre manager went on to say that he had been speaking to a modified car enthusiast who revealed that drivers organise meetings and events across Northern Ireland. "It's just an opportunity for them to meet up and compare cars. There's nothing malicious involved," he said.
"We also have a 24-hour security team and we're also in contact with traffic branch."
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