Euro-MP calls for action to stop UK car mountain
July 27, 2004 2:46 PM
Two West Midland's local authorities have the most abandoned cars in the country according to figures uncovered by the Liberal Democrats.
There were more than 10,500 cars abandoned in Birmingham during 2002/3 which was double the number in the previous year. Similarly the figures for Coventry showed an alarming increase of 354% to 5,500.
The figures also reveal a third West Midland's local authority had the biggest increase in abandoned cars in the country. Wyre Forest saw the number of discarded cars go up by over 635% between 2001/2 and 2002/3.
Despite the ever expanding car mountain, the government is refusing to take action to deal with the problem according to West Midlands Euro-MP Liz Lynne. The Government has failed to implement the European End of Life Vehicle Directive that would make the vehicle's producer responsible for the cost of disposal rather than the final owner as is the case now.
Comenting on the Figures the Liberal Democrat MEP said:
"Once again the Government has failed to tackle the ever growing abandoned car mountain.
"This is a direct consequence of the absurd decision to make the final owner of the car foot the bill for its disposal, rather than the manufacturer as is standard practice throughout the EU. The Labour Government is letting down local authorities by not taking a lead on the issue.
"Every car burnt out in a field, dumped in a quarry or cluttering up a housing estate has the words 'Government incompetence' written all over it."
ENDS
Notes To Editors
Local Authority Breakdown on Number of Abandoned Cars
2001/02 2002/03 Increase
Wyre Forest
73 537 635.6%
Coventry
1,210 5,500 354.5%
Dudley
272 800 194.1%
Stoke-On-Trent
200 500 150%
Oswestry
56 123 119.6%
Stafford
73 150 105.5%
Birmingham
5,257 10,638 102.4%
Staffordshire Moorlands
21 37 76.2%
North Warwickshire
150 225 70%
Solihull
341 571 67.4%
Stratford Upon Avon
73 115 57.5%
North Shropshire
134 196 46.3%
East Staffordshire
240 347 44.6%
South Staffordshire
82 106 29.3%
Shrewsbury & Atcham
110 135 22.7%
Bridgnorth
49 45 -8.2%
Worcester
464 414 -10.8%
Warwick
300 249 -17%
Cannock Chase
50 43 -14%
Herefordshire
460 324 -29.6%
Newcastle-Under-Lyme
150 100 -33.3%
Wolverhampton
1,800 463 -74.3%
Sandwell
5,247 625 -88.1%
Source: Parliamentary Question Answers to Norman Baker MP 176937 (18th June 2004) and 99226(4th March 2003)
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