Crackdown on anti-social driving at Babraham Road Park and Ride

30 July 2026

Plans to tackle anti-social behaviour at Babraham Park and Ride are now in-place following strong community support in a public consultation by South Cambridgeshire District and Cambridge City councils.

A Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) has been introduced at the Park and Ride – which has seen dangerous and disruptive driving in recent years.

Anyone who breaches the PSPO can now be fined. Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras and CCTV cameras are being used to enforce the new rules, allowing the councils to track vehicles and issue fines without needing staff on site.

It comes after the District Council introduced a similar PSPO at the Milton Park and Ride last year. More than 160 people took part in a consultation into doing similar at Babraham Road, with the overwhelming majority (88%) in favour of tougher measures to tackle driving issues. Almost half of the respondents said they had witnessed some form of anti-social behaviour there.

Consultation responses include comment from Sharon Allen, OBE, Chief Executive of Arthur Rank Hospice, which is next door to the Babraham Road Park and Ride.

Ms Allen said: “When the anti-social behaviour happens, which is frequently, it causes disturbance to our patients and their visitors. Many of our patients are facing the end of their life. Others are staying for pain and symptom control. They need a peaceful environment which is disturbed by this anti-social behaviour causing distress and anxiety for the patients and for their loved ones. It also impacts our colleagues not only because of the increased workload responding to distressed and concerned patients and visitors, but also because colleagues are nervous about walking to or through the Park and Ride at the start or end of their shifts.”

Issues reported during the consultation include organised vehicle gatherings, cars and motorbikes speeding, revving engines, racing, stunts, loud music, burnouts, car horns, creating a danger to pedestrians and a noise nuisance to residents. Other comments include:

  • We suffer sleep deprivation and so do the children, it is stressful.
  • Afraid to go anywhere near the Park and Ride while a car meet is in progress.
  • I live in Cherry Hinton and have heard what sounds like a Formula 1 race through my closed and double-glazed windows!
  • Noise starts from 7pm and goes on to the early hours of the morning including revving, misfiring engines and loud music played through professional sound systems.
  • These meet-up events used to be once or twice a year but now happen weekly and sometimes on consecutive nights.
  • I avoid using the Park and Ride in the evening as I'm concerned for my safety. Presumably it also dissuades people who work at Addenbrookes and the BioMedical Campus from using the bus for the same reason.
  • The impact of this has ruined my home life where I’ve lived for 25 years.

Cllr Laurence Damary-Homan, Lead Cabinet Member for Environment at South Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “We have listened to local people, and the message is absolutely clear – this behaviour will not be tolerated. The levels of disruption we’ve seen at Babraham Park and Ride are completely unacceptable, and action is needed. Everyone deserves to feel safe and to enjoy peace and quiet - not to be subjected to reckless driving and intimidation. By introducing a Public Spaces Protection Order, we are sending a clear signal that this behaviour has consequences and will be dealt with. This builds on the decisive action we took at Milton, and we will continue working with partners to clamp down on those who think they can flout the rules, so these facilities remain safe, accessible and welcoming for everyone.”

Cambridge City Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities, Cllr Mike Todd-Jones, said: “We are pleased to be introducing firm measures to tackle disruptive and dangerous car meets at Babraham Park and Ride. Residents deserve to feel safe and respected in their own neighbourhoods. Reckless driving and anti-social behaviour put lives at risk and undermine the quality of life for so many. Thank you to everyone that shared their thoughts during the consultation process – your voices were instrumental in helping us to take meaningful action. We are proud to take action alongside our partners to prevent this activity, and protect public safety.”

If you witness anti-social driving after 5:15pm, please report it to Cambridge City Council via the out-of-hours phone line on 0300 303 8389.

Alternatively, you can submit a report online at www.cambridge.gov.uk/resolve-or-report-a-noise-issue

Between April 2024 and mid-January 2026, the councils and partner agencies recorded persistent anti-social activity within the Babraham Road Park and Ride, which crosses the border between Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire. These incidents mainly occur during evenings and late at night, often continuing past midnight. Council records show 22 separate reports of inappropriate and inconsiderate vehicle use at the Park and Ride during that period of almost two years.

Background on Public Spaces Protection Orders

PSPOs are legal tools used by local authorities in England and Wales to address anti-social behaviour in public areas. Introduced under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, they allow councils to impose restrictions on specific activities within designated areas to ensure public spaces can be enjoyed by everyone.

A PSPO can be issued by a local authority if certain criteria are met:

  • Activities must have a detrimental effect on the quality of life of those nearby.
  • The behaviour must be persistent or continuing.
  • Restrictions must be justified to prevent or reduce the detrimental effect.