Key Points
- South Cambridgeshire District Council and Cambridge City Council have introduced a Public Space Protection Order at Babraham Park and Ride in Cambridge.
- The move follows repeated complaints about anti-social vehicle activity, including car meets, noisy driving and dangerous stunts.
- Council records show 22 separate reports of inappropriate and inconsiderate vehicle use between April 2024 and mid-January 2026.
- The councils say the behaviour often took place in the evenings and late at night, sometimes continuing past midnight.
- The order covers speeding or reckless driving, loud revving, racing-style activity, dangerous stunts and threatening or abusive behaviour.
- Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras and existing CCTV will be used to help enforce the rules.
- People who breach the order could face prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000, or a Fixed Penalty Notice of up to £500.
- The councils say the order is intended to help protect residents, park and ride users and nearby communities.
Cambridge City Council (Cambridge Tribune) July 30, 2026 – South Cambridgeshire District Council and uk/local/cambridge-city-council/">Cambridge City Council have moved to tighten controls at Babraham Road Park and Ride after what they describe as persistent anti-social vehicle behaviour at the site. The councils say the Public Space Protection Order is designed to curb dangerous and disruptive driving, reduce noise and improve safety for local residents and other users of the park and ride.
Why was the order introduced?
As reported in the joint council release published on 27 February 2026, the move followed a long-running pattern of incidents at the site, which crosses the border between Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire. The councils said they had recorded 22 separate reports of inappropriate and inconsiderate vehicle use between April 2024 and mid-January 2026, alongside intelligence that further gatherings were being planned.
The councils described the activity as including organised vehicle gatherings and car meets, excessive engine revving, repeated acceleration and deceleration, loud exhaust noise, horn misuse and playing loud music from cars. They also cited drifting, wheel spinning and burnouts, saying those activities created risks for pedestrians, other site users and nearby residents.
What does the PSPO ban?
The order makes it a criminal offence to carry out, assist or encourage several forms of behaviour within Babraham Road Park and Ride. These include speeding or reckless driving that risks causing harassment, alarm or distress, revving, racing and disruptive vehicle use, dangerous stunts such as doughnuts and wheelies, organised meets or racing-style activity, and threatening or abusive behaviour towards other park and ride users.
According to the council statement, the restrictions are intended to address behaviour that tends to happen in the evening and late at night, often continuing past midnight. The councils said that, in some cases, the cars dispersed after police attendance but later returned, which they argued showed the problem was persistent rather than isolated.
How will it be enforced?
The councils say enforcement will rely on Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras and existing CCTV. That means they would be able to track vehicles and issue penalties without needing an officer physically present at the time of each incident.
Anyone who breaches the order could face a Fixed Penalty Notice of up to £500 or prosecution, with a maximum fine of £1,000 if the matter goes to court. The councils said the approach follows a similar order already introduced at Milton Park and Ride last year.
What did council leaders say?
South Cambridgeshire District Council’s Lead Cabinet Member for Environment, Cllr Natalie Warren-Green, said residents had described the behaviour as disruptive and intimidating, especially late at night. She said nobody should have to put up with dangerous driving, excessive noise or large organised meets that make people feel unsafe, and urged local people to take part in the consultation.
Cambridge City Council’s Cabinet Member for Safety, Wellbeing and Tackling Homelessness, Cllr Mike Todd-Jones, said the evidence showed a clear pattern of persistent and escalating antisocial vehicle activity at the site. He said the proposed PSPO was an important step and encouraged people to share their views during the consultation.
What happens next?
The consultation on the proposed PSPO ran until 11:59 pm on Friday 27 March, with residents asked for views on the issues they had experienced, whether they supported the order and what restrictions they thought would be appropriate. The councils said public feedback would help shape the next steps.
Background of the development
Babraham Road Park and Ride has become a focus for local concern because it sits across the boundary between Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire, making it a shared responsibility for both councils. The latest order follows a wider pattern of local authority action in Cambridgeshire to tackle anti-social behaviour around transport hubs and public spaces.
The councils said the order was introduced after repeated incidents involving vehicle gatherings, noise and stunts that had continued despite reports to police and council teams. Their case for intervention was based on the view that voluntary measures had not stopped the behaviour from recurring.
Prediction: how could this affect residents and drivers?
For nearby residents, the order may reduce late-night noise, vehicle gatherings and the sense of intimidation described by the councils. For regular park and ride users, it may make the site feel safer and more orderly if enforcement is consistent.
For drivers who use the site responsibly, the practical effect should be limited, although they may notice increased monitoring and quicker intervention if gatherings begin. If the PSPO is enforced as intended, it could also discourage similar activity from shifting to other park and ride locations in the area.
