'No revving or rapid acceleration': Kensington and Chelsea launches crackdown on supercars after arrival of Middle Eastern mega-rich

 
Making a racket: A supercar seen outside Harrods in Knightsbridge (Picture: Rex)
Rex
Robin de Peyer26 July 2015

Petrolheads who roar through the streets of Kensington and Chelsea in 'supercars' face a crackdown after a barrage of opposition to them.

Wealthy drivers are notorious for motoring through exclusive parts of London such as Knightsbridge to show off their high performance cars.

Some rich foreign enthusiasts even have their cars shipped over from the Middle East for the summer.

Cars including Ferraris, Porsches and Lamborghinis, are regularly seen outside landmarks such as Harrods - with many having been modified to increase performance.

But Kensington and Chelsea council is now consulting on how to clampdown on the 'supercars', which it says have "a detrimental effect to the local community’s quality of life".

Supercars in London

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If they are given the go ahead, the plans would make it a criminal offence for drivers to rev engines, play loud music or rapidly accelerate.

The strict rules would also make it illegal for groups to drive in convoy, leave the car running while stationary or beep the horn.

Cllr Tim Ahern, the council's cabinet member for environment, environmental health and leisure, said: “I know there has been a lot of coverage of expensive cars racing around Knightsbridge and also parking up and revving their engines. We want to take steps to discourage these drivers from their antisocial behaviour.”

Retired teacher Angela Stone, 55, who lives near Harrods, told the Sunday Telegraph: “They just go round and round hoping to be looked at. They get out their diamond studded cars and pose in them.

"It’s like an expensive Spanish resort without the sun. It is irritating and completely unnecessary. I do understand how they upset residents.”

But businessman Saddet Alketbi, 35, told the paper from his Rolls Royce: "They [the cars] are not too noisy. It’s not so much of an issue. If there is one guy who makes a loud noise then they [residents] think it’s everyone.”

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