Qatari supercar owner admits: 'We make too much noise'

Noise issue: Qatari businessman Mohammed Al Kubaisi, 26 Picture: Nigel Howard

Nigel Howard

27 July 2015

A wealthy “boy-racer” from the Middle East today welcomed a proposed crackdown on anti-social driving in Knightsbridge and admitted “we make too much noise.”

Kensington and Chelsea council chiefs plan to introduce “car-Asbos”, making it a criminal offence for drivers to rev their engines, rapidly accelerate or play loud music in the neighbourhood.

The move follows years of roaring engines and squealing tyres on summer nights on the streets around Harrods that have blighted the lives of local residents. Now drivers of the imported “pimped up” supercars - often covered in gold or crystals - face prosecution and fines

One supercar owner told the Standard he accepted the noise from their cars had been causing problems.

Mohammed Al Kubaisi, 26, a millionaire businessman from Qatar, has driven his Bentley, Ferrari, Rolls Royce Ghost, and now his Aston Martin Vanquish around the streets of Knightsbridge.

A parked black Ferrari close to Harrods department store in Knightsbridge central London. Photo: John Stillwell/PA Wire

Photo credit should read: John Stillwell/PA Wire

But he said: “We need to respect the UK law and the people that live here. We do make too much noise with our cars and we are visitors here so if the law is made we will abide by it.”

The planned Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) would be imposed on the Brompton and Hans Town wards of Knightsbridge, which includes Harrods and the streets around it.

The matt finish blue Maserati parked close to Harrods department store, in Knightsbridge central London. Photo: John Stillwell/PA Wire

John Stillwell/PA Wire

Breaches of the PSPO will lead to fines and potential prosecution. Repeated breaking of the rules will lead to cars being seized by police and impounded.

The order would make it illegal for motorists to perform any of 11 different activities: revving engines; speeding; sudden or rapid acceleration; driving in convoy; racing; leaving the engine of a stationary vehicle to run idle; performing stunts; sounding horns; playing music; using threatening, intimidating behaviour; causing an obstruction on the road, whether moving or stationary.

A parked black and yellow Ferrari close to Harrods department store in Knightsbridge central London. Photo: John Stillwell/PA Wire

John Stillwell/PA Wire

Nick Paget-Brown, leader of Kensington & Chelsea council, said: “It has been a big problem for some years now. The area has become a destination for boy-racers from the Gulf States and their super cars make an enormous amount of noise.

“They rev their cars and they can be heard right across the neighbourhood. We wanted to find some way of tackling this and the best way forward is the PSPO. Residents have had to put up with too much for too long.”

Residents welcomed the proposals. Property developer Richard Swift, a father-of-two of Rysbrack Street, said: “I think the law should be imposed in aid of the people that reside here.

“It is such a chaotic place around here and anything to help lower noise pollution is welcomed by me. If people want to rev their engines and play loud music they should do it in a more rural area to not upset local people.”

Mattieu D’Souza, 48, of Wilton Crescent, who works in finance, said: “It is a nuisance and I do think that measures should be made in the interest of residents that live here. I have only lived here for two months but I can see why people may be upset.”

The consultation on the proposals runs into October, when the council will then decide whether to implement them.

Qatari supercar owner admits: 'We make too much noise'

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