Cross House Shroton DT11 8QG [email protected]

17 October 2019

Mr Martyn Underhill Police and Crime Commissioner for Dorset Force Headquarters Winfrith Dorchester Dorset DT2 8DZ

Dear Mr Underhill,

Motorcyclists – Use of the A350 at Shroton

The Parish Council wishes to inform the Commissioner that a number of the residents of the village of Shroton are concerned with the very loud and disturbing noise that emanates from motorbikes being raced on the A350 past the village, by riders of motorbikes who appear to be under the impression they are on an isolated road with few residents or risks and it is acceptable to treat it as a race track. While village residents do understand the appeal of “racing around the bends” for motorcyclists, this practice shows little or no consideration for local people who have to live with the noise.

Parishioners have for many years lived with the roar and sound of motorbikes accelerating along the stretch of the A350 fronting the village, and I am advised that the unofficial ‘race course’ starts just after and continues up the A350 through and beyond towards . This matter is at its most noticeable during the summer months with longer hours of light, good visibility, and mostly dry road surfaces for the motorcyclists to hone their driving skills. The Parish Council also recognises there are good riders who are careful and ride responsibly and courteously on the A350. However, at the September 2019 meeting of the Iwerne Courtney & Stepleton Parish Council, a parishioner related a recent physical confrontation he experienced with a number of motorcyclists on the A350 at the southerly entrance to Shroton. He had approached a number of motorcyclists about the incessant noise pollution caused by motorcyclists using that stretch of the A350 past the village as a race circuit, but he was physically assaulted by one of them. He has not reported this to the police.

Are you able to advise the Parish Council, please, whether:

• are investigating the use of noise cameras to measure noise pollution in any part of Dorset? • Dorset Police would consider the use of noise cameras to measure noise pollution along the A350 by Shroton? • Random checks could be instigated to check that motorbike exhaust pipes have not been manipulated to produce noise pollution? • There could be an occasional police presence, particularly on Tuesday evenings (race meetings) • and at weekends during the summer, to deter motorcyclists from using this stretch of the A350 for racing? • Steps may be taken to deter the promulgation of the Stepleton Bends stretch of road as a site for this type of activity among motorcycle groups?

The Parish Council considers this activity is both a highly unreasonable seasonal intrusion on the lives of residents living and working along the A350, and also a serious road hazard to drivers, farmers, horse riders and cyclists. There is concern that some residents may become sufficiently aggravated by the regular intrusion that they may confront motorcyclists personally, as the individual who reported to the Parish Council had done, at considerable risk to their personal safety and well-being.

Kindest regards,

Lizzie Kingsbury Clerk Iwerne Courtney & Stepleton Parish Council cc Cllr Jane Somper (Beacon Ward) Dorset Council Chief Constable Dorset Police Chairman A350 Community Group Dorset Council Highways Road Safety Team