and Blackwood Bowls Club Secretary Allen Witchell
Residents living near Blackwood Showfield are demanding action to stop “boy racers” from gathering at its car park.
Last year, Caerphilly County Borough Council cut the funding for a council worker to lock the gates of parks across the county borough.
A barrier erected at the car park of Blackwood Showfield, off Sunnybank Road, to prevent vehicle access out of hours is now left open without anyone to lock it.
Blackwood councillor Nigel Dix said: “There’s been a particular problem with car cruisers in Blackwood over the years, especially on High Street.
“The lockable barrier here meant that cars could not get in once it was closed, but they could still get out if they drove over the ‘crocodile teeth’.
“There are cars back and forth here all night.”
Resident Niki Priest, 35, said the problem of car cruisers was affecting the community’s quality of life.
The mother-of-one said: “It’s just very disturbing. They come here at 11pm and the way in which they conduct their behaviour is irresponsible and dangerous.”
Allen Witchell, 72, is Secretary of Blackwood Bowls Club, which has its clubhouse nearby and said they had someone on their roof recently causing damage.
He said: “We suspect it was lead they were after. If they couldn’t get a car in, would they try and get the lead?
“The fact they can have access after a certain time makes our building more vulnerable.
“One of our members was in the car park and the cruisers were driving around taking no notice of him. That’s worrying.”
Cllr Dix said offers to the council of letting volunteers have keys to lock the barriers have been met with concerns over health and safety and fears of confrontation between car cruisers and people locking up.
A spokesman for Caerphilly County Borough Council said: “We are currently considering arrangements for the security of the site in the future.”