Overnight clampdown on Wick’s boy racers
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LATE night noise nuisances in Wick are to be silenced this week with a Highland Council-funded roadblock.
The council’s Riverside public car park had barriers installed this week to stop anti-social drivers congregating in the area overnight and pestering the patrons of the nearby Norseman Hotel.
The hotel has seen a drop in the number of hotel users following scores of complaints about the noise coming from the motorists.
As the final option in a long-running struggle against the problem, gates are to block access by the hotel staff from 11pm to 7am daily.
Meanwhile, local councillor Gail Ross has been approached by a member of the public petitioning to not have the gates put in.
"Somebody approached me asking if it would be worthwhile to set up a petition because in their eyes the car park is public and access to it can’t be shut off," Mrs Ross explained.
"But the council have spoken to their legal department and because it is a local authority car park, officials can restrict access to it whenever they wish, as long as they put up signs."
On Monday, the barriers were fitted at the entrance and exit to the car park but no signs were visible.
Mrs Ross said an earlier decision to install speed bumps on the road between the car park and the hotel appeared to deter motorists from speeding and eased fears over someone being injured or killed on the stretch of road between the car park and the Norseman. However, it also displaced the "boy racers" into the car park.
Business at the Norseman Hotel has reportedly been adversely affected by such problems since new management took over several years ago.
"The Norseman Hotel is losing money hand over fist here and it doesn’t just look bad for that business but for all of the county," said Mrs Ross.
"This is especially true when patrons don’t even stay for the time they are booked in for just because they can’t get a good full night’s sleep.
"We’ve got to do everything we can to support businesses in the town and if that means putting up a couple of barriers then to me that’s all well and good."
The councillor added that a key would be available between 11pm and 7am at the front desk of the hotel for anyone wishing to use the car park for legitimate reasons.
