A CITY centre car park blighted by a “worrying” rise in illegal racing is to close on weekend evenings, Colchester Council has announced.

The entrance to St Mary’s car park in Colchester will shut from 10pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights but the exit will be open all night, so centre centre visitors can continue to have access throughout the weekend.

Temporary Heras fencing will block the entrance to the site off Balkerne Hill in a direct bid to clampdown on anti-social drivers entering it.

Colchester Council leader David King told the Gazette: “I am absolutely determined that we nail this and we nail this now.

Gazette: Response - police patrol St Mary's car park in response to anti-social behaviourResponse - police patrol St Mary's car park in response to anti-social behaviour (Image: Essex Police Colchester)

Gazette: Troubled - St Mary's car park in ColchesterTroubled - St Mary's car park in Colchester (Image: Newsquest)

“There is going to be absolutely zero tolerance to this, fines and everything.

“This action is specifically to stop the joyriders having their fun at everyone else’s detriment. They are making residents’ lives an absolute nightmare.”

Mr King said extra CCTV is going to be temporarily fitted in the car park to cover blind spots, while existing cameras will be “tweaked” to catch troublemakers’ number plates.

The council leader added he has promises from the police for a “much more proactive response” and the town hall will bring in its own security.

Gazette: Decision - Colchester Council leader David KingDecision - Colchester Council leader David King (Image: Newsquest)

Gazette: Action - a police car parked in St Mary's as officers await the arrival of troublemakersAction - a police car parked in St Mary's as officers await the arrival of troublemakers (Image: Essex Police Colchester)

He said businesses have been consulted on the decision and he does not expect it to impact trade in the city centre or add a strain to other car parks.

“The reality is most people coming into the city centre would have done so by mid or late evening,” said Mr King.

“I feel for the recent experience of residents. They have a guarantee of action and we are following through this weekend.

“They deserve to sleep well and we are going to stop the people making their lives a misery.”

Gazette: Sceptical - Colchester MP Will QuinceSceptical - Colchester MP Will Quince (Image: UK Parliament)

Colchester MP Will Quince claimed the anti-social problems stem from the council’s “greed” at removing the car park’s barriers in 2016 amid a change in payment policy.

He said: “When they had barriers they didn’t get the so-called boy racers because they had to pay on exit.

“I am afraid the council’s greed has caused this problem. They need a proper, long-term solution to this which is, in my view, not treating car drivers as a cash cow.”