New Scheme to Clear 'Eyesore' Cars

12.00.00am GMT Fri 24th Nov 2006

Two city estates are to pilot a scheme aimed at stopping untaxed and nuisance vehicles from littering roads and attracting vandalism to neighbourhoods. The pilot scheme to clear up neglected and unroadworthy vehicles from council-owned land is to focus on the Conniburrow and Lakes Estates for the next three months.

In the past, council environment officers could do nothing to remove vehicles where ownership of the vehicle could be established, even if the car had become a nuisance to the community. Now council officers can impound a vehicle if it is not made roadworthy or taxed by the owners within one month of a notice being served under the Local Government Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1982.

These new powers were praised by Rob Lawrence, Local Environmental Quality Manager at Milton Keynes Council, for helping to make the town a better place to live by cleaning up the environment. He said: "It was frustrating for the public who reported abandoned cars but in the past we could do nothing to move them if we knew who owned the car. It means that we can now act to move these cars which often attract vandalism and are eyesores in many streets."

The Council will issue a notice giving the vehicle owners a week to remove the car from council-owned land. If the vehicle remains, it will be impounded and if not claimed within a month and all storage costs paid, will become council property and sold.

Liberal Democrat Councillor Douglas McCall, cabinet member responsible for the environment, said: "Creating a better quality of life in communities in Milton Keynes by removing vehicles that could be a focus for anti-social behaviour such as vandalism is an important part of what we want to do as a Council. If this scheme is successful, we will roll it out across other city estates.

Under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005, action can also be taken against individuals parking vehicles on the street and effectively using the street as a repair workshop/car showroom to sell and repair vehicles as a business.

Anyone who spots an abandoned or unroadworthy vehicle can call the Council's Dial a Wreck hotline on 01908 252277.