The move is a result of new legislation that reduces the amount of notice that has to be given by local authorities and police before they remove abandoned vehicles.
” Abandoned vehicles are a blight on our neighbourhoods and are arson cases waiting to happen “
– Carwyn Jones, Welsh Assembly
Under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act, the notice required for vehicles in such a condition that they should be destroyed is reduced from seven days to 24 hours. For all other vehicles the disposal notice is reduced from 21 days to seven days.
Ministers hope the move will cut the 12,500 vehicles abandoned in Wales each year.
Minister for Environment, Planning and Countryside, Carwyn Jones, said: “Abandoned vehicles are a blight on our neighbourhoods and are arson cases waiting to happen. This legislation will make a real difference to people who live and work in affected areas of Wales.
“Local authorities and police will now have the power to remove many abandoned vehicles after 24 hours, rather than having to wait seven days as before. This legislation has the full backing of the Arson Reduction Initiative in the three Fire Service regions of Wales,” the minister added.
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Across Britain, the number of vehicles abandoned each year is approaching 300,000 vehicles each year. Councils are co-operating with a new, more accurate Drivers and Vehicles Licensing Agency registration system, and the DVLA hopes to remove 100,000 of the estimated 1.75 million untaxed vehicles each year by 2008 to make the task easier.
The Assembly said rules bringing in Europe's ELV Directive should help cut down on abandoned vehicles from 2007, since vehicle producers will be made responsible for making sure last owners do not have far to travel to hand over vehicles for recycling free of charge.
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