Abandoned Vehicles

A new scheme has been launched to help tackle the menace of abandoned cars in Chester.

Abandoned cars are a visible blight on neighbourhoods and act as a magnet for anti-social behaviour, including vandalism and arson.

The problem has increased in recent years, causing a real headache for police, fire fighters and councils up and down the country.

Each year in the United Kingdom, approximately 2 million vehicles reach the end of their life, either through age or becoming unusable after the involvement in an accident. The majority of vehicles that have reached the end of their life or are no longer of use to the registered owner are disposed of legally. However, the latest Waste Management Survey carried out by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) estimates that around 299,000 vehicles were abandoned in England in 2002/2003. Abandoned vehicles are expensive to remove, and have a negative impact on the environment. They can be the result of, or lead to crime, they take up valuable parking spaces and can quickly become dangerous when vandalised or filled with hazardous waste (they are often used as skips).

There is a risk of explosion or injury: they can leak dangerous fluids, which can endanger lives, property and the environment. Ultimately abandoned vehicle removal and disposal is the responsibility of the local authorities and so not surprisingly the problem costs an enormous amount of money.

How to identify an abandoned vehicle

Before you report and abandoned vehicle please collect as much information as possible. The following points should help you make a judgement:

Is the vehicle untaxed i.e. no tax disc present at all or past the expiry date?

Are any of the tyres flat or have any of the wheels been removed?

Is there any litter or detritus (weeds/leaves) under the vehicle, indicating that it has not been moved for some time?

Is the windscreen or and of the windows broken?

Is there any mould on either the inside or outside the vehicle?

Does the vehicle contain items of waste e.g. tyres, old newspapers, general rubbish?

Does the vehicle have number plates?

Has the vehicle been vandalised? Exterior vandalism might include dents in bodywork, bumpers spoilers being removed: interior vandalism might include radio being stolen, seat covers being slashed.

Has a vehicle that you or your neighbours never seen before suddenly appeared in your road and no-one is claiming ownership?

Do not move, entre or even touch an abandoned vehicle. They are a health and safety risk, can be classed as, or contain hazardous waste and can often pose a fire risk. On some occasions, abandoned vehicles have been used for crime related activities such as drug dealing, prostitution and burglary, in which case the police may wish to seize the vehicle for investigation purpose.

Bunt out vehicles

NEVER approach a burning or burnt out vehicle, even after they are brunt out. They are still very dangerous and are a hazard to the public. A burning vehicle fire will consume 500kgs of plastic material and toxic chemicals such as hydrogen cyanide and hydrofloric acid will be given off.

Flourolastomec, or venton, is a material used to make break seals, fuel pipes, gaskets, 'O' rings and other seals for motor vehicles. When used under their design conditions flourolastomers are perfectly safe. If however, the are exposed to temperatures exceeding 400 degrees the metal does not burn but decomposes. Burnt fluorolastomec melts into a highly corrosive acid (hydroflouric acid) which, if it comes into contact with skin, cannot be removed - the only treatment is amputation.

Melted flourastomec remains dangerous for at least 2 years. Only professional de-contamination will remove safely. Remember vehicles remain dangerous after the fire has been extinguished. Please contact Chester City Council on 01244 402477, who will deal with the problem. However, if the vehicle is still burning, call the fire service immediately.

How do I report an abandoned vehicle?

If you suspect that a vehicle has been abandoned or to request the removal of an abandoned vehicle, please contact Environment Call Centre on 01244 402477, email callcentre@chester.gov.uk or use the abandoned vehicle report form .

What happens when I report an adandoned vehicle?

Vehicles that Chester City Council considers to be abandoned and have no value (wrecks) will be removed and sent for destruction.

Vehicles that have some value (runners) will be towed away and stored for seven days and if not claimed will be sent for destruction.

Vehicles that pose a danger to the public, broken windows, smashed body work etc) can be moved immediately and stored for seven days or sent for destruction.

If a vehicle is abandoned on private land, the owner/occupier of the land may be served with a 15-day notice by Chester City Council. The notice informs them of the intention to remove the vehicle and the have 15 days to object.

Chester City Council also has the power to recover costs of removal, storage and disposal from the person responsible for abandoning the vehicle.

Chester City Council also reserves the right to issue fixed penalty notice of £200 under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005.

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 danger, broken down or abandoned without lawful authority. The police can remove a vehicle to which a notice has been affixed by the local authority and has deteriorated to a dangerous wreck Immediately.

If a vehicle us likely to cause danger out of normal office hours please contact Cheshire Constabulary and report the vehicle on 0845 458 0000. The local police station will deal with getting the vehicle removed.

Car Clear

'Car Clear' aims to see abandoned cars moved from the streets within hours of being reported, helping to reduce the risk of arson attacks and joyriding and improve the local environment.

There is a dedicated 24 hour hotline - 0800 08502153 - for people to report suspected abandoned cars. Cars confirmed as abandoned will be removed within 4 hours.

How do I dispose of an abandoned vehicle? The vehicle amnesty scheme.

Chester City Council will arrange to have the vehicle collected by our contractor Car Transplants who are authorised to take scrap vehicles.  Please contact out Call Centre on 01244 402477 who will send out a form of your authorisation for use to collect and dispose of the vehicle. You will need to supply the V5 Registration Form (logbook) and vehicle keys before the vehicle is collected.

You must make sure that the DVLA is given the correct notification regarding and change in the status of your vehicle.

Abandoned vehicles and the law.

Local authorities are under a duty under section 3 of the Refuse and Disposal (Amenity) Act 1978, to remove a vehicle which is abandoned in their area, on any land in the open air, or on any land forming part of a highway.

However, this does not cover vehicles abandoned on private land. Under this Act abandoning a vehicle us a criminal offence, carrying a maximum penalty or a fine of £2,500 or three months imprisonment or both.

The Council uses the services of 'Car Transplants Ltd' - a company that specialises in dealing with abandoned vehicles.

To find out more, or to request the removal of an abandoned vehicle, please contact Environment Call Centre on 01244 402477, email callcentre@chester.gov.uk or use the abandoned vehicle report form .