SOUTHEND roads have been compared to a “F1 race track” by furious residents demanding action to tackle boy racers. 

Residents have backed Southend West MP Anna Firth’s campaign for action to tackle speeding and car cruisers, insisting the situation has become a “nightmare” with the sound of revving engines often heard in the early hours of the morning.  

Paul Gilson, Undercliff Gardens resident, near to Grand Parade, said people’s lives are on the line as he demands action.

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He said: “Southend is used like an F1 racetrack, especially roads such as Grand Parade, Cliff Parade and Marine Parade.

“As a local resident who has lived here for decades, it is an absolute miracle that we haven’t seen more fatalities and injuries.

“I have raised this with Southend City Council before, who keep saying there’s nothing more they can do.

“Quite simply, when people’s lives are on the line, that’s not good enough.”

Public space protection orders were introduced in Southend in 2019, and Leigh in 2021, to give community safety officers more power to prevent anti-social behaviour.

Under the powers of the public space protection order, Essex Police can disperse anyone found to be driving dangerously.  

Jill Goff, 59, who lives on the London Road, close to the Elms in Leigh, added that she can hear the speed of boy racers during the early hours of the morning.

She said: “Often in the early hours of the morning, you can hear the speed of them.

“It is a nightmare.

“It goes on and on, I have lived here around six years, people need to realise it affects our sleep.

“It is also dangerous, I have seen cars jump the lights, and drivers overtaking at the lights at speed.

“There needs to be more CCTV because if people got caught on CCTV and fined for speeding, that will stop some of it.”