A ROAD safety crackdown in Maldon may just move the problem elsewhere, it is feared.

Maldon District Council’s community safety team is working with police to try and counter speeding across the district and discourage boy racers around the town.

Earlier this year the Standard revealed the Maldon Community Safety Partnership was exploring using a public space protection order to tackle gatherings and street racing.

At the end of last year a coalition of Maldon District Council, police and retailers united in a bid to combat the issue.

It came after a crackdown by police over two weekends in August saw more than 120 drivers prosecuted for illegal driving, mainly speeding.

In November, 50 car lovers met at Blackwater Leisure Centre, in Park Drive, as part of an unofficial meet sparking more fears about the issue.

But Maldon District Council’s Community Services Committee was told while the council was looking to tackle the problem head on, it could just see it relocate somewhere else.

Karen Bomford, who leads the Community and Living Team on the council, said: “The road safety aspect is something that I think members will be very much aware is increasing in Essex and unfortunately Maldon has not escaped it.

“We are working very closely with the police to endeavour to reduce that and look at measures which can be implemented to remove it from the district.

“Unfortunately my feeling is it won’t be stopped, it will just relocate.”

Other measures being explored to combat speeding across the district included stretches of roads where boy racers where caught travelling at 70mph being cut.

Last year Essex Highways approved plans to cut road speeds from 60mph to 40mph across sections of Wycke Hill, Limebrook Way and Maldon Road, in a bid to improve road safety.