Euro-MP calls for action to stop UK car mountain

2.46.36pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 27th Jul 2004

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)