§ Mr. Ivan HendersonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what initiatives her Department has introduced since 1997 to tackle the problems of abandoned cars. [129695]
§ Mr. MorleySince its creation in June 2001, Defra introduced on 9 April 2002 regulations reducing the statutory notice periods after which local authorities can remove abandoned vehicles from the highway. Local authorities can now remove those vehicles that they consider merit destruction from the highway after the expiry of a 24 hour notice placed on them.
Defra is consulting 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 closes on 24 October. We aim to introduce a Regulation in the new year to amend the Removal and Disposal of Vehicles Regulations 1986.