§ Bob RussellTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what advice he has given to local authorities on dealing with unauthorised sales carried out on roadside sites; and if he will make a statement. [187984]
§ Mr. MorleyI have been asked to reply.
Defra is currently consulting through it's 'Clean Neighbourhoods' document on a raft of measures that will improve the suite of powers available to local authorities in the management of our local environment. These would be taken forward once a suitable legislative opportunity arises. The document includes proposed measures on nuisance vehicles.
The proposal is to create a definition of 'nuisance' vehicle that would include vehicles that were detrimental the amenity of an area or causing a nuisance. Local authorities would have the power to remove these vehicles immediately and recover the costs of doing so. It would become a prosecutable offence for being responsible for such a vehicle.
What constitutes a nuisance or detrimental to the amenity of an area would be clarified in regulations and will be subject to the results of the consultation. Vehicles which are placed on the highway for sale is being considered as part of this process.