A bid to become a pilot area for new anti-nuisance cameras has been launched by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, as part of efforts to reduce excessive vehicle noise and antisocial behaviour associated with unauthorised car meets.

The borough council has put itself forward to the Secretary of State for Transport to trial new cameras that are designed to identify and track drivers who break the law by excessively revving their engines and using modified exhausts.

Last year the government announced trials of this new road camera and the council is hoping that introducing the pilot scheme in the borough could help to tackle issues identified locally, boosting the successful partnership work already taking place with the police, private businesses and landowners to jointly tackle unauthorised car meets in the borough.

Cabinet Member for Communities, Partnerships and Inclusion Cllr John McKay said: “We know this is a big issue for people in the town. Antisocial vehicle use disturbs residents and disrupts the environment and people’s peaceful enjoyment of their homes and public places. As a borough we are keen to put ourselves forward to trial these new cameras and see the impact they have on this type of antisocial behaviour. The cameras will enable the police to take enforcement action where necessary and protect the public from inconsiderate and unsafe road users, which is something we as a new administration know is important to our residents.”

The cameras use microphones to identify excessively noisy vehicles as they pass by. They take a photo and record noise levels to create a package of evidence that can be used by the police to identify drivers. This allows appropriate action to be taken, including enforcement where needed.

While the first phase trial has cameras in four areas across the UK, the next phase may see more widespread trials where the impact on residents is the greatest. The locations would be decided by the Department for Transport, but the council is bidding to be one of trial areas.