The Melville Theatre was packed on Monday night as angry residents called for action to be taken about young drivers racing round Abergavenny streets at night, keeping many awake through the night.

Chaired by town Mayor Teslin Davies, the meeting of councillors and around 100 local residents called on Monmouthshire County Council to bring in a 20 mph limit on Park Crescent and Park Avenue and the streets that connect to them, and to close Fairfield car park at night.

The meeting, was called after Park Crescent resident Anna Roberts contacted her county councillor, Martyn Groucutt. He, and fellow Labour county councillor Tudor Thomas, from the adjacent Priory ward, agreed that a campaign would get their full support.

Anna Roberts told the meeting, “My road is used every school day by hundreds of pupils making their way along Park Crescent to three schools. We must create a safe route to Our Lady’s, Cantref and King Henry VIII, and slow the traffic that is using my road as a cut-through that avoids the town centre traffic lights, by making it quicker to stay on the main road.”

Councillor Tudor Thomas told the meeting of talks held with Gwent Police and MCC officers.

He said, “The young drivers who drive at speed around the car park and then out onto local roads in the early hours are making the lives of many people a misery. Something has to be done.”

Calling for a barrier to be installed to stop night-time entry to the car park, he said offenders’ cars being confiscated as has happened on previous occasions, has not deterred the nuisance drivers.

Members of the public spoke, sometimes movingly according to Councillor Groucutt, of the impact that the noise of the boy racers has had on their lives. Some, who had come from other parts of town, said the issue wasn’t confined to the Fairfield, and others spoke of the increasing threats of traffic speeding in areas like Ross Road and Lansdown Road.

Councillor Martyn Groucutt outlined possible next steps for a campaign that might successfully address the reasons for the meeting. He said that Labour councillors had come together to work with the community. ??“This is community politics in action. If we work together we can have a successful campaign that will make this area a safer place for all who live here.”

He then called for anyone who could take the petition from door-to-door in their own very local area and was quickly surrounded by eager volunteers.

“The campaign is now underway and the first aim is to get the petition ready for presentation to the next meeting of the county council, so the views of the community are clear and action can be taken. Watch this space,” he added.

• For more information, residents can contact Councillor Martyn Groucutt on 01873 857153/07730 952633 or Councillor Tudor Thomas on 01873 840299.