Waterloo Business park used as a race track

Tyre marks are a common sight on a Monday morning at the Waterloo Business Park. Photo / Christchurch Star

At night, the fresh tarmac of Islington's new Waterloo Business Park becomes a race track for cars, motor-cycles and even karts.

Those living in nearby residential Brixton, Wilson and Mortlake Sts are being kept up by a chorus of revving, skidding, racing and burnouts.

And when developers of the business park go to work on a Monday morning, they often find empty bottles and rubbish strewn across footpaths, gardens and the street, as well as the black tyre marks all over the roads.

Residents and businesses are fed up, Waterloo Business Park project manager Ashley McLachlan said.

"Sadly, there has been a small number of people using the roads and parks in a destructive manner, which impacts on the businesses based here and our neighbours. We want people from our community to feel welcome and safe," he said.

Business park developers have organised security patrols and are in the midst of organising security cameras so they can gather evidence, which will then be passed on to police.

And the city council is also offering a hand to try and deal with the "anti-social" behaviour.

It is proposing restricted access to roads in the park at night, as part of the prohibited times on road's bylaw.

"The proposed restrictions will assist the city council, police and residents in addressing the unsocial and destructive behaviour that has been happening in the business park," McLachlan said.

The restricted access will also work with no stopping along Halswell Junction Rd, Pound Rd and Waterloo Rd.

The restrictions would apply from 10pm to 5am, seven days a week.

Streets that could be restricted include Doric Way, Commerce Cres, Innovation Rd, Enterprise Ave, Islington Ave, Industry
Ave.

Legitimate road users will not be affected by restricted access.

Business employees, residents, and anyone else with a genuine reason for being on the streets would be exempt from the restrictions.

But those who infringe would risk a $750 penalty.