Noisy and nuisance drivers are keeping residents up at night by revving their engines and doing ‘doughnuts’ in an Ashford car park.

The sound of screeching tyres, horns beeping and loud music are just some of the issues residents living close to the Stour Centre, off Tannery Lane, are having to put up with.

The racket is created by tearaways who descend on the centre’s car park at night, and use it for their social gatherings.

The problem is causing havoc for those living in Mill Court, which lies just across the river and opposite the car park.

Now, following complaints from neighbours about the anti-social behaviour, Ashford Borough Council (ABC) is bringing in new measures to tackle the problems.

From next month, the car park’s entrance in Tannery Lane will be locked from 11.15pm, while the gates in Station Road will close at 9pm.

The car park will then reopen every morning at 5am.

In addition, ABC is considering placing a public spaces protection order (PSPO) on the site.

PSPOs specify an area where activities are taking place that are or may likely be detrimental to the local community’s quality of life and can impose conditions or restrictions on people using the area.

A council spokesman said the trouble in the car park has been happening for years.

He said: “The car park has been closed at night for more than five years as a response to anti-social behaviour associated with people using the car park late at night.

“The new closure time of 11.15pm is 45 minutes earlier, with one entrance closing at 9pm.

"Street pastors have told them what a nuisance they are; I’ve even gone down and told them" - Cllr Graham Galpin

“The trialling of an earlier closure is due to continued reports of anti-social behaviour associated with drivers of cars using the area.”

Currently the car park closes at midnight and opens at 5am.

The spokesman added that the council has already tried “a number of initiatives to reduce the problems” and have even taken enforcement action, including writing to the owners of the vehicles, issuing Community Protection Notice warnings and Section 59 notices, a warning that will last 12 months.

He added: “Kent Police, Kent Fire and Rescue Service, T-cat, civil enforcement cfficers and the street pastors have all tried engaging with the car users, highlighting the problems that are being experienced by the residents of Mill Court.

“Enforcement action has also been taken by Kent Police and Ashford Borough Council.

“While these measures have often had a positive impact, it is only for a short period of time.

“As well as trialling the earlier closure we are working with our community safety partners to see if a public spaces protection order would be appropriate.”

Neil Kennett, 39, a resident of Mill Court who moved to Ashford from London, thinks closing the gates earlier will improve the situation.

He said: “It doesn’t bother us too much. We noticed the revving when my wife was pregnant. Maybe closing the gates earlier will help.” He added, however: “The kids need somewhere to go.”

Cllr Graham Galpin, Ashford member for Stour ward and cabinet member for town centres focus and business dynamics, said he has received dozens of complaints from residents about the anti-social behaviour, which “keeps them up at night”.

“I’ve been aware of the problem for at least four years now,” he said.

“Drivers rev their engines, play loud music, honk their horns and have been known to do doughnuts from time to time.

“You can’t predict the nights they will be there, but mostly it’s weekends when we have good weather.

“I’ve had lots of complaints, and they are exclusively from Mill Court residents.”

Cllr Galpin (Con), whose ward borders the Stour Centre car park, says there have been many initiatives over the years set up to tackle the issues, but admits they only prove to be “temporary” solutions.

“Street pastors have told them what a nuisance they are; I’ve even gone down and told them,” he said.

“The police have taken vehicle registration numbers and then send letters to the car’s owners, which is often the parent.”

Speaking about the new measures, he added: “This is an attempt to limit the impact of what is happening.

“We hope it will discourage them from using the car park.

“If this is not a success, we’ll look at a public spaces protection order, which is a legal action we can take.

“That will give us some teeth. It might result in displacement but it will move them along. We want them out of residential areas.”

Inspector Andrew Judd, said: “Kent Police has been working closely with Ashford Borough Council in relation to the anti-social use of vehicles in the car park.

“The main concern has been noise from those vehicles at night causing a disturbance to local residents.

“The area continues to be a focus of our anti-social behaviour patrols.”

The new closing times will be trialled for four months, after which there will be a review.It will come into effect on Wednesday, October 14.

For more information visit www.ashford.gov.uk/ashford-town-parking.