Councillor calls for action on illegal car meets

A Westminster councillor has accused the local authority of failing to protect residents and visitors from dangerous illegal car meets.

Councillor Rachael Robathan, a Conservative representing Knightsbridge and Belgravia, said she has pressed the Labour administration for more than a year to introduce tougher measures.

She is calling for the roundabout at the top of Exhibition Road to be resurfaced with a high‑friction material to deter racing and drifting, along with an injunction that would give police stronger enforcement powers.

Westminster Council said it is working with Kensington and Chelsea to install a high‑friction anti‑skid surface that can only be laid during warmer temperatures.

Robathan said the council had yet to act on either proposal, despite her first raising the issue a year ago.

She said she organised a meeting at City Hall in January 2025 with cabinet support officers to push forward the resurfacing, where a quote was obtained for the work but no progress has followed.

She told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "It is really disappointing that this administration, despite my repeated calls over the last 15 months, has completely failed to implement measures which would keep our residents and visitors safe."

The authority said the work was agreed last autumn and that April is the earliest contractors can begin.

It added that any injunction would need to be approved by the courts and that officers are currently gathering evidence for a borough‑wide application.

Illegal car meets, often involving large crowds and dangerous stunts, have long been an issue in parts of Westminster.

The council has introduced Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) that allow officers to issue £100 fines in several hotspots, including Exhibition Road.

Labour also introduced a new PSPO covering parts of Soho and Mayfair last year.

Robathan said these powers are insufficient and more decisive action is needed.

A Westminster City Council spokesperson said: "Partnering with the police and neighbouring boroughs has seen significant enforcement, including 356 fixed penalty notices (FPNs) for nuisance driving this financial year, with 54 FPNs on Exhibition Road specifically.

"We are also gathering evidence for a borough‑wide injunction to increase our powers, and a new anti-skid treatment due to be installed on Exhibition Road in April will act as a long‑term deterrent.

"There have been fewer reported car meets so far this year, but we will continue to use all the tools at our disposal to clamp down on this menace and keep the city's roads safe."

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk