CAR enthusiasts who have been blamed for littering and anti-social behaviour at the Winsford Marina car park have urged the police and council to ‘work with them.’


Police and Winsford Town Council teamed up to address a problem of what they called ‘long-standing anti-social behaviour’ last month when they decided to gate off the marina car park every night after 10pm.


The news that the car park would be gated off sparked a debate on the Guardian’s Facebook page, with many residents blaming a group of car enthusiasts for litter, noise and anti-social behaviour. 


Members of the group who have congregated on the car park in recent times spoke to the Guardian, insisting that they are being misunderstood by the rest of the community. 


Martin Large, 23, said: “I’m 23 and I have a child, I’m not out to cause mither, it’s just a hobby to get out the house. There are a few 17 and 18-year-olds who have just passed their test and might come along and let us down, but every group has a minority like that and the vast majority are just like me. 


“We’re just car enthusiasts, that’s all it is. Most car enthusiasts don’t like to sit at home every night in front of the telly, they want to go out and talk about cars with like-minded people. We like to get together and look at what each other has done to their cars. 


“One of the main issues that have people have brought up is noise and litter. First of all, the marina is on the only long, straight road in Winsford, so there are always going to be cars driving up and down there, you can’t do anything about that. In terms of the litter, there is just one bin. 


“If the council and the police worked with us and said ‘listen, we’ll put more bins out and you can go on here, as long as you keep the place tidy and keep the noise down’ that would be great, but we’ve not once been approached about it. 


“We are the future of Winsford and working against us isn’t helping anyone. Put some sanctions in place if needs be, but start working with us.”


The car park, which was previously open all hours, is now open to the public be-tween 8am and 10pm up until September 30 and between 9am and 5pm from Octo-ber 1 to March 31, 2017.


Insp Dave Snasdell said last month: “Local residents have been kept awake with vehicles causing a nuisance. Hopefully this will reduce the problem.”


Another member of the car group said that he wants the council to work with them to offer an alternative place to go. 


Mark Williamson, 32, said: “They need to start looking at us as adults with a passion rather than a group of youths just congregating. If they don’t want us at the marina then why can’t they work with us to provide somewhere for us to go.”