MP KIM LEADBEATER has called for solutions to issues of road safety and anti-social behaviour in her Batley and Spen constituency.

Constituents across Batley and Spen have raised concerns with her about the risks posed by speeding drivers, off-road bikes, quad bikes and scooters, dangerous parking and other antisocial behaviour.

Having campaigned on these issues since her first day as an MP two years ago, Ms Leadbeater is still pushing for multi-agency work and behaviour change to stamp out the disruptive problems across the area.

She held two roundtables at her office and raised the issues during a debate in Parliament, referencing a number of local hotspots.

The participants discussed a range of specific problems including off-road bikes, high performance cars being driven at excessive speeds, safety for horses and their riders and the problems caused by HGVs using narrow roads that are unsuitable for them.

Speaking earlier in Parliament, Ms Leadbeater said: “Hardly a week goes by without people getting in touch about the risk to pedestrians and other road users, and the intimidating behaviour of what are, for the most part, teenagers and young men showing a total disregard for the safety of others.”

She spoke about residents who told her of problems with quad bikes and motorcycles on the Fieldhead Estate in Birstall and a resident who spoke about balaclava-clad trial bike riders causing havoc in Gomersal.

Ms Leadbeater criticised the government for its cuts to police numbers and resources and said: “Too often the voluntary and private sectors have to step in to try and fill the void.”

She praised Jack Sunderland and his team at the Training Cave in Birstall, who encourage young people to put their time and energy into Boxing, BUMPY, also in Birstall, which offers on and off-road motorbiking sessions and qualifications in a safe environment, and Sustrans, who look after the Spen Valley Greenway.

Ms Leadbeater added: “But the truth is, that without a systematic, government-led strategy to provide a range of sport and physical activity provision for young people, we are going to continue to have the kind of problems we have been discussing today.”