RESIDENTS should now be able to sleep better at night following the installation of a barrier to help stop late night anti-social behaviour on a Withymoor car park.

The work to install the barrier on the car park at the end of Turner's Lane was completed on October 9 after Amblecote councillor Paul Bradley managed to secure funding to try to put a stop to the problem.

Residents living nearby had reported cars wheel spinning and racing, loud music blasting out in the early hours, and drug taking going on on the car park late at night and in the early hours.

The problem had been going on for a number of years but things worsened during the coronavirus lockdown.

Cllr Bradley said around £3,000 was secured from the Amblecote ward's Empty Shops and High Street Innovation Fund allocation to help fund the installation of the barrier which will enable the car park to be locked up during the evenings and he said any money left over would be put towards other projects in the area.

He said the bid to get the barrier installed had received widespread support from residents, police, community campaigners and Stourbridge MP Suzanne Webb and he added: "I'm really happy about how it's come together."

Residents have already volunteered to help with opening and locking up the gates once associated signs have been put up to warn motorists the car park will be locked up overnight.

Any residents wishing to help or to join the local Street Watch team to help keep anti-social behaviour at bay on the Withymoor estate is invited to get in touch with Cllr Bradley by emailing Cllr.Paul.Bradley@dudleymbc.org.uk or contact the Amblecote Neighbourhood Team of West Midlands Police by emailing stourbridge@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk.