Speed bumps could be used to put the brakes on nuisance drivers at a town centre car park – but residents have warned the measure will not solve the problem.

East Devon District Council (EDDC) is proposing to install ‘traffic-calming road humps’ at the entrance and exit to Manor Road car park in a bid to tackle vehicle-related antisocial behaviour.

But people living in homes surrounding the site, who previously appealed to the authority to close the car park at night, say it will not be enough.

More than 50 residents signed a petition urging EDDC to install barriers to stop the nuisance, including engine revving and loud music – sometimes as late as 4am.

But a report before the council’s cabinet says the humps, which would cost in the region of £2,500, would ‘more than likely’ have a positive effect.

The document considers other options, including a ‘pay on exit’ barrier and an automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) system.

However, it concludes a barrier would be unsuitable because it would require a member of staff ‘on-hand to deal promptly with the inevitable mechanical failures that occur’.

And it says ANPR would not be possible because the law does not allow the public sector to use evidence from such a system for civil parking enforcement.

The report concludes: “It is a simple observation that the vehicle of choice for many of the individuals associated with this problem tends to be a modified version of a production car with significantly lowered suspension.

“This leads to the not-unreasonable conclusion that the drivers of such vehicles will be able to negotiate traffic calming road humps only with care and it is likely to be the driver’s preference to avoid them altogether.”

In response to the proposal, a spokesman for the Manor Road residents group said: “It’s not something we are all happy about, because we don’t necessarily think it will solve the problem.

“This week, only two of the six cars out there were lowered.

“Over 20 years, residents have been trying to get something permanent done, but nothing has happened.

“Enough is enough and the time has come to do something about it.”

EDDC’s cabinet will consider the report on Wednesday (November 4).