RESIDENTS in Chineham have complained after being disturbed by a ‘noisy’ car meet near a shopping centre.

Police were called to the incident at 11.31pm on Saturday, June 2 to reports of an unauthorised car meet near Chineham Shopping Centre, where cars were being driven ‘in an antisocial way’.

Hampshire Constabulary said officers attended the scene and dispersed the group ‘within minutes of arriving’.

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(Image: Google Street View) Sam Tadanori, a resident who lives nearby, reported the incident to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council after being disturbed by “screeching tyres, persistent loud back-firing exhaust and unlicensed extremely loud thumping music that disturbed residents for streets around”.

He said: “This went on for over an hour to after midnight into a working / school day.”

However, he was frustrated with the council’s response when it asked him to contact the land owners himself.

“The local council have clearly stated, in writing, they are uninterested in supporting their residents in a local problem,” he said.

A statement from Hampshire Constabulary warned about the dangers of car meets.

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It said: “Our officers are not against people gathering to show their vehicles and socialising because of their interest in cars.

“However, we will not tolerate dangerous or illegal activities on our roads and anti-social use of vehicles will not be tolerated in Basingstoke.

“We want to keep our community safe and the slightest mistake at a car meet can cause serious injuries or even result in someone losing their life.

“We take any report of anti-social use of vehicles extremely seriously and our officers will do everything they can to ensure that those responsible will be put before the courts.

“Please continue to report incidents to us via 101 or on our website. Visit our site for more details: hampshire.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/asb/asb/antisocial-behaviour/vehicle-nuisance-involving-cars-bikes-and-mopeds.”

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council has been asked for a comment.