Environmental Services
Abandoned vehicle removal service
Abandoned vehicles are not only unsightly, but can be dangerous, especially to youngsters who are tempted to use them as play equipment.
Under the Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act 1978, it is the duty of the local authority to remove any vehicle found to be abandoned in the open air, or on any part of the highway. We have been disposing of unwanted vehicles for free for the last 5 years.
This initiative is designed to improve residents' quality of life by ending the environmental blight caused by nuisance vehicles.
To help improve the environment, The End of Life Vehicle directive came into effect in 2005. This Directive requires all scrapped vehicles to be de-polluted before destruction and for a certain percentage of materials to be recovered for re-use or recycling.
What is an abandoned vehicle?
- A vehicle will be treated as abandoned if it has been left for a period of time or has no apparent owner
- It may have no tax and it may also be in a dangerous condition
What you can do to help
- Never enter or even touch an abandoned vehicle. It may have been used in a crime and may need to be investigated by the police
- Vehicles also pose a health and safety risk, may contain hazardous waste and can often pose a fire risk
- Never approach a burning vehicle or burnt out vehicle - burnt paint, rubber and other materials maybe toxic or corrosive and harmful
- If a vehicle is on fire, call the fire service immediately. If the vehicles is already burnt out contact Barking and Dagenham Direct or complete the nuisance vehicle report form
To report a vehicle you should collect the following information:
- Vehicle, make, model and colour
- Vehicle registration number (also visible on the tax disc)
- Condition of the vehicle (detailing any vandalism)
- Expiry date on the tax disc, if there is one
- Location of the vehicle and whether it is causing any kind of obstruction
- How long the vehicle has been abandoned
- Any other information, for example who was the last person you saw in the vehicle
What we will do to help
- All abandoned vehicles will be inspected within 24 hours of being reported, this is laid out and monitored by the Best Value Performance Indicator BV218a
- These vehicles may then be given a notice, depending on the condition and location of the vehicle
- Vehicles that are considered to be of value can be removed immediately and a 7-day notice is sent to the registered keeper
- Vehicles that are considered to have no value are given a 24 hour notice period however under certain circumstances they will be removed immediately
- Vehicles on private land are given a 15-day notice period usually after consulting the land owner nor agent
- Any vehicles that are deemed to be abandoned, are removed within 24 hours after the notice has expired this is laid out and monitored in the Best Value Performance Indicator BV218b
- We also have the power to recover costs of removal, storage and disposal from the person responsible for abandoning the vehicle
- The Police have powers under the Removal and Disposal of Vehicle Regulations 1986 to remove any vehicle that is in breach of local traffic regulations, causing an obstruction, likely to cause a danger, broken down or abandoned without lawful authority. Any car that is considered to be a dangerous wreck and where a notice has been issued can be removed immediately
- We will also remove untaxed vehicles from the highways and will report them to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)
- Remember do not abandon your vehicle you can surrender it to us instead
Surrendered Vehicle Scheme|
Untaxed Vehicles|
Nuisance Vehicle Report Form|
Contact
Abandoned Vehicles
Roycraft House
15 Linton Road
Barking
IG11 8HE
Supported by Barking and Dagenham Direct:
Tel: 020 8215 3005
Fax: 020 8227 5184
Minicom: 020 8227 5755
Email: 3000direct@lbbd.gov.uk|
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 8am - 6pm.
