§ Phil SawfordTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to deal with the problem of abandoned cars. [134348]
§ Mr. MorleyDefra is working closely with other Government Departments on a range of initiatives to tackle the problem of abandoned vehicles.
Our role in this has included introducing, on 9 April 2002, regulations reducing the statutory notice period after which local authorities can remove abandoned vehicles from the highway. Local authorities can now remove from the highway those vehicles that they consider merit destruction after the expiry of a 24 hour notice placed on them.
We have now consulted on a proposal to reduce the statutory notice period whereby a landowner can object to the removal of a vehicle(s) abandoned on their land. The consultation closed on 24 October. Depending on the outcome of the consultation, we may introduce a regulation in the new year to amend the Removal and Disposal of Vehicles Regulations 1986.