More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
Police could force a café could to close one night per week to stop motorcyclists doing stunts outside.
Since the 1990s Oakdene Café, off London Road in Wrotham, has attracted riders to a 'biker night' every Wednesday.
However a few, who do wheelies outside on the main road, have sparked a warning from Kent Police telling the business owner they might have to shut their eatery every Wednesday night to stop the anti-social riding.
Police say that there is no immediate threat to the business as there are several options to tackle the problem, but closure is one.
Janet Jevons, who opened the café in 1982, says she is fully co-operating with police, who have been helpful, but is worried if she can't control the bikers she will have to close on her most profitable evening of the week.
"I have pleaded with the police to say that its the only time of that the café is really busy," said the 74-year-old. "I said to them that I really need to open on those nights - I don't want to be closed down, I need the income to pay my way here and I have a high rent cost.
"I'm trying to stop it myself and have posted on social media and am having posters made up to put outside. I'm against the stunts, full-stop. It makes me feel ill when I see them doing it because if they come off they could kill themselves.
"The ones that stand there watching don't even come into the café."
The move has caused confusion and frustration among customers who argue the owners should not have to suffer a loss of trade because of what people are doing outside.
"So if those people go and wheelie outside the police station will they close that?" one commenter on the cafés Facebook page wondered.
Others don't see a problem with the wheelies and stunts at all.
"I've been driving past there a while now and not seen one police car. No harm done just people enjoying themselves," said another commenter.
District Commander, Ch Ins Peter Steenhuis said: "On Thursday, July 18, patrols attended the A20 at Wrotham following reports of motorcyclists riding in an antisocial and potentially dangerous manner.
"Officers have also spoken with the owners of a café in the area frequented by motorcyclists to seek their support and to discuss preventative options in encouraging responsible and considerate motorcycling."
