Car meets: The hobby that petrolheads love but locals loathe

"I suddenly could hear a loud screeching noise. There was also a very awful burning smell," he said. "It was about 2am and what I saw was pure chaos, smoke everywhere, people filming on their phones. You wouldn't think this was a supermarket car park."

"This has been going on for years but seems to have intensified over the past year at least. "I've lived in Elmers End for 19 years. It used to be a safe, peaceful, pleasant area. I certainly don't feel safe at night any longer and neither does my family. "This antisocial behaviour needs to be stopped."

"full speed down Croydon Road, putting lives at risk"

A night-time barrier is planned at the Elmers End Tesco car park after long-running problems with late-night car meets that turn the lot into an improvised race track. Meetings of car enthusiasts have produced roaring engines, screeching tyres, cracking exhausts, stunts and speed trials that often spill onto surrounding roads. Locals report burning smells, smoke, crowds filming, and near-misses that have eroded feelings of safety and intensified over the past year. Residents say the behaviour is antisocial and dangerous. Authorities across the capital face the challenge that closing one site may simply move the activity elsewhere.

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