Security has been stepped up and police response teams will be focusing attention at Thanet Parkway station after issues with antisocial driving around the car park.
Complaints about nuisance driving have been made since the Parkway station opened last week.
The Kent Police beat officer for Cliffsend, Pegwell, Nethercourt and Newington, PC Owen, has issued a message on My Community Voice saying: “A quick message to offer some reassurance around recent issues at Thanet Parkway since it opened last week. Specifically during the midweek when there was a large amount of anti-social behaviour in respect of nuisance vehicles.
“I have liaised with British Transport Police and will be looking at longer term solutions.
“In the meantime, the late and night duty response teams are fully briefed and will be paying it extra attention. I am aware that station security has been enhanced over the weekend too, which hopefully saw a reduction in noise issues.”
County Councillor for Ramsgate Karen Constantine said: “It’s very sad to hear of problems at Thanet Parkway railway station, but not entirely surprising. Residents have contacted me to complain about light pollution, noise pollution, and also variety of cars pulling stunts in the car park.
“KCC, the police and Southeastern are going to have to respond to residents concerns and take them very seriously.
“Many of the problems seem to do with the fact that this station is actually in a very isolated area, and that will always attract certain undesirable and anti-social activities. It must be remembered that CCTV does not prevent crime, it records it.
“I invite any resident to contact me to discuss this.”
A Kent Police spokesperson said: “Kent Police received reports of nuisance driving in a car park in Parkway Approach, in Ramsgate shortly before 10pm on Thursday 3 August.
“Officers attended to assist the car park security staff with moving the vehicles away from the site. Work is ongoing with site owners to review the issue.”
David Wornham, Passenger Services Director for Southeastern, added: “We understand that our customers and the local community will be concerned about the incidents of anti-social behaviour in the car park at Thanet Parkway Station last week.
“We want to reassure customers and the community that Southeastern is working closely with Kent County Council, who own the car park, to monitor the site so that we can report this kind of behaviour to police as quickly as possible.
“Kent County Council have security staff on site and Southeastern Railway Enforcement Officers are also conducting regular patrols at the station.”
Thanet Parkway Station opened on July 31. Southeastern has pledged to staff the station for the first six weeks on weekdays between 8am and 4pm following concerns that the site is unstaffed.
Costs for the station quadrupled from an estimated £11m in 2015 to just shy of £44m.
The total price tag may even exceed £44m as further funding has been needed to complete level crossing and signalling work. The project work was impacted by rising inflation.
British Transport Police and Southeastern have been asked for further details.
Thanet Parkway Station opening – quadrupled cost and the anticipated ‘boost’ to housing development
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