East Suffolk Council
Your old vehicle is YOUR responsibility
Suffolk Coastal has reminded local people that their old vehicles are their own responsibility!
The reminder comes after a woman has gained a criminal record and been made to pay a total of £1084 after Suffolk Coastal took her to court for abandoning her car in a private car park.
Zoe Potter of Spencer Road, Rendlesham failed to attend Ipswich Magistrates’ Court on 17 April and the matter was heard in her absence. She was fined £440 for abandoning her car off Sycamore Road, Rendlesham and made to pay £600 costs and a £44 victim surcharge.
Council officers were notified of the abandoned car in September 2017. Zoe Potter, the registered keeper of the vehicle, received two formal notices which she ignored and Suffolk Coastal had to remove and impound the car at the taxpayers’ expense in January 2018. Furthermore, she failed to pay a £200 fixed penalty notice.
Cllr Carol Poulter, Cabinet Member for the Green Environment for Suffolk Coastal, said:
“This woman was given plenty of opportunity to do the right thing and arrange for her vehicle to be scrapped but choose to ignore formal notices, meaning that the council had to step in and collect, store and dispose of the vehicle at taxpayers’ expense.
“She also ignored a penalty notice of £200, which would have been reduced to £120 if paid within ten days and put an end to the matter. I hope that this sends a strong message to anyone who might be temped to dump their old vehicle, because we will investigate and it could end up costing you even more.
“There is no place for abandoned vehicles in our neighbourhoods and countryside. Not only are they an eyesore, but can pose a danger to children and wildlife as well as attract unwanted attention of vandals. Vehicles dumped in this way are also likely to leak oils, coolants, fuels and other fluids which can cause a serious pollution incident that would be extremely costly to clean up.”
If you receive a notice from the council suspecting your vehicle has been dumped - don’t ignore it! Your vehicle could be seized and you will have to pay for it to be released, starting from £170 and increasing every day!
It is easy to arrange the disposal of your vehicle with the End of Life Directive. There are a number of sites you can take your vehicle to or arrange to have it picked up (depending on the make). To find your nearest one, visit Cartakeback or Rewarding Recycling.