Fewer cars being dumped

The number of vehicles reported as abandoned has plummeted by 62 per cent over the last five years according to Wiltshire Council.

This decrease is being attributed to a number of factors including effective inspections and greater public awareness. Higher scrap metal prices has also had an effect

During the period April 2010 to March 2011 WC received 447 reports of abandoned vehicles, compared to 518 the previous year.

'Cabinet' member for enforcement, Dick Tonge said: "It's good to see a five year decline in the numbers of vehicles being reported as abandoned. This is the result of effective inspection and enforcement, together with a website containing clear information for the public.

These reductions save the council and taxpayers money as well as keeping our neighbourhoods tidier places."

Out of the 447 vehicles reported as abandoned only 35 were actually scrapped.

The percentage of vehicles scrapped is significantly down on other years. From 2006 to 2009 the percentage of vehicles scrapped was between 14 and 20.

A further 200 were issued with a notice and of these 103 were moved by their owner to avoid further action and 97 were claimed by their owner stating they were not abandoned.

The cars reported are all inspected within a target time of 24 hours and the council takes action if a vehicle is believed to be abandoned.

WC still receives a large number of reports about untaxed vehicles or neighbourhood parking disputes. The council has updated its webpage to assist with filtering out possible tax and parking problems and establishing why the person reporting the vehicle believes it to be abandoned.

You can report an abandoned vehicle at http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/parkingtransportandstreets/abandonedvehicles.htm