Illegal spinning in Ocean View on Sunday mornings has many residents up in arms, with the pollution debris and noise it causes.
During a Community imbizo held on Thursday 11 May, residents raised the issue of illegal spinning with police management and local councillors.
Ward 61 councillor Simon Liell-Cock said he has been in many discussions around the issue and he had been searching for a legal venue.
“I have no authority to give anyone permission and the issue here is that I am looking for a legal venue for the spinners and we have been in discussion with them many times.
“It is too far for them to drive to Killarney and it is too expensive.”
One resident claimed nothing was being done about the “lawlessness” of spinning in Ocean View.
“Illegal spinning has been happening in front of the library for two years now and we asked the police, to ask the councillor and there is a lot of red tape to get the spinners away from the area.
“There is a church, a library, a clinic and even this hall and nobody is doing anything about lawlessness in Ocean View.
“I have family that has asthma and there are old people, they have to endure that smoke. There have been lots of accidents happening but it was not reported because it is like a racecourse here,” she said.
Meanwhile, Liell-Cock responded: “What spinners are currently doing on the streets of Ocean View” is illegal and he did not condone their behaviour.
“It is illegal what they are doing, but there is a need for that outlet in the community and we are looking for one (a venue) that is close enough for them to go to.
“It is not a bad thing, so I would rather have an inside agreement.”
He added that they tried bringing in Law Enforcement and Metro Police when illegal spinning occurred, but as soon as the police arrive, the spinners disappear.
“If Saps comes out here, the community stone the cars and damage the cars and then we don’t have that one van we have for vispol (visible policing). If we get Metro and Law Enforcement to come down in their numbers and then the spinners don’t come out because the minute you have Law Enforcement here, it doesn’t happen.
“Metro and Law Enforcement can’t be here every Sunday. We want to work with the people. They are not bad people, they just need outlets. I would rather have some control and some influence than none whatsoever.”
