CRACKDOWN ON UNTAXED VEHICLES

Officers from Lewes District Council's new Clean & Green Team have recently been authorised by the Secretary of State to immediately remove any untaxed vehicles within the District.

This week officers removed an untaxed vehicle from Elphick Road, Newhaven, after the DVLA confirmed that the vehicle was not displaying a valid tax disc.

Councillor Elizabeth Lee, Lewes District Council Lead Member for the Community said, "We want to make people aware that we are able to remove any untaxed vehicles within the District without giving any notice at all. This is a recent change in the law that officers will be enforcing vigorously.

"If people want to retrieve their vehicles after they have been removed then they will have to pay a minimum of 200 within 24 hours and also produce proof that the vehicle has a current tax disc before it will be released to them.

"Untaxed vehicles are often in poor condition and are rarely insured or covered by a current MOT certificate, using them in this condition is an offence and can also be damaging to the environment."

The council's message to people is to make sure that their vehicle has a valid tax disc as it is a much cheaper and better option than paying to retrieve it after it has been towed away. Any vehicles that are removed and not claimed within 14 days will be crushed or possibly sold at auction.

The money that the council collects under its new powers will be used to support the Clean & Green team work to protect the environment and reduce environmental anti-social behaviour.

Other recently introduced legislation has introduced new offences and increased penalties for anti-social and environmentally damaging behaviour like nuisance or abandoned vehicles, fly-tipping, graffiti, dog fouling and other "environmental crimes".