Abandoned car left for weeks

With its tinted windows and leather seats, it was once a motorist’s pride and joy. But four weeks after it was abandoned, this Renault’s wing mirrors have been smashed, its wiper blades and aerial stolen and tyres let down.

The Megane has been slapped with a DVLA “untaxed vehicle” notice and a note, apparently from a resident, stating: “Police aware, council to be advised to remove”.

Residents today spoke of their frustration that the nine-year-old untaxed car, which would have been worth £13,000 new, is still there.

Wolverhampton City Council says it has traced the owner of the car, which has been left in Perton Brook Vale, Wightwick.

The authority received 969 complaints about abandoned vehicles during 2007, 570 of which were claimed by the owners, 123 were removed by a council contractor and one was towed away by police. Another 243 were removed by “persons unknown”.

Retired medical scientist David Barry, aged 71, whose house backs on to the dumped car in Perton Brook Vale, said the vehicle had been left in the street for around four weeks.

“I thought it was a visitor at first who had just parked it there,” he said. “It was OK when it first arrived, then a wing mirror was broken.

“About two weeks ago I phoned the police and they said that it hadn’t been reported stolen and they didn’t seem particularly interested.

“The lady said the council had been instructed and it was now the council’s job to do whatever was necessary and the police weren’t involved.”

Resident Balbir Kale, 50, said: “I don’t want it in the area and want it removed.”

Council spokesman Tim Clark said three complaints had been received about the Megane. “Following our investigations, the vehicle has been claimed and is therefore deemed not to be abandoned,” he added.

Councillor Elias Mattu, safer and stronger communities chief, said the authority was powerless to act. “If a car is untaxed, then it is a police matter,” he said and pledged to take up residents’ concerns with officials.

West Midlands Police is now investigating the road tax issue.