Great Bedwyn driver fined for abandoning vehicle
Leaving his car in a Great Bedwyn car park untouched and untaxed for three years cost Chris Rushton of Fairfield, Great Bedwyn more than £2,000 in fines and costs.
On Monday 17 December 2018,he was ordered to pay £2,018.26, following a successful prosecution by Wiltshire Council at Salisbury Magistrates.
The vehicle was abandoned in a car park in Great Bedwyn near Marlborough, without any valid tax since November 2015 or any valid MOT which expired in January 2016. The vehicle also had flat tyres and had been stationary for a long period of time.
Bridget Wayman, cabinet member for highways and transportsaid said: “Abandoned vehicles cause a significant environmental hazard and will not be tolerated in Wiltshire. This prosecution makes it clear to everyone that we take this issue very seriously. We will investigate reports of abandoned vehicles and take formal action against the owners who abandon their vehicles and consider it acceptable for taxpayers to foot the bill for responsible removal and disposal”.
Enforcement officers received a complaint of a vehicle having been abandoned in the car park and traced the vehicle owner through their live DVLA system. Written notifications were sent to Mr Rushton who did not respond. This resulted in a fixed penalty notice of £200 being issued, which was not paid by Mr Rushton. The council prosecuted Mr Rushton as a result of the non-payment of the fixed penalty and he pleaded guilty under the Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act 1978.
