A RESIDENTS group plagued by anti-social behaviour in Oswestry’s Central Car Park say they have been left without a solution to their problem after councillors voted against changes to the site.

The Trinity Area Residents Association criticised Oswestry Town Council’s decision to make changes to the car park’s entrance and exit systems to avoid boy racers.

The move was proposed by councillors Mike Isherwood and Paul Milner but after a vote at the start of October, councillors opted not to take any of the plans forward.

Peter Lloyd, secretary of the association, believes the council could have done more to alleviate the problem.

“Over many years residents have asked the town council, as the car park’s owner, to help prevent this antisocial behaviour,” he said. “We asked again this year – they referred us to the police.

“The police have made heroic efforts to help us but they cannot solve this problem.

“There is no joyriding in the Sainsbury’s car park because it is designed not to have wide open spaces that lend themselves to vehicle stunts.

“Shropshire Council recommended the town council upgrade the car park to remove this and other design flaws, and to make it attractive to visitors.

“Even though Shropshire offered to share the cost, the town council refused.”

Arren Roberts, Oswestry Town Council clerk, said the decision to not pursue changes was taken after a vote.

He said: “The town council took the decision not to undertake the survey at this time after considering a report.”

But Mr Lloyd added that he felt the town council had not doing enough to help residents.

He said: “The council – the one group with the ability to solve the problem – have rejected our suggestion of designing out the problem. They have offered no alternative.

“The town council proudly states its objective to ‘promote community and economic wellbeing, and to offer a high standard of services’.

“But the standard of service it offers the car park’s neighbours is negative. It is actively making their lives worse.

“The agony of the late night disturbances has been particularly hard to bear this year as the coronavirus emergency has confined people in their homes.”

The proposal from cllrs Isherwood and Milner asked councillors to consider making the car park pay-on-exit as residents also park onsite.