Calls for council to take action over ‘abandoned’ vehicle in Burgess Hill

They claim the Ford Transit van is parked at the entrance to their close and partly on the pavement – obscuring safe access onto Maple Drive.

The district council issued a notice to remove the vehicle at the start of February – but according to the residents, has taken no action since after saying it issued the notice ‘in error’.

Speaking on behalf of residents, town councillor Simon Hicks (Leylands Ward), who lives in Dumbrills Close, said: “The vehicle broke down in early December and was pushed to the current location where it has been left unattended since.

“The council affixed a notice relating to the Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act on February 7, giving a weeks’ notice to move the vehicle, which is still on the vehicle, but to the bewilderment of local residents the council now claims it had been fixed erroneously and will be removed.

“Statutory action can be taken against a vehicle without tax or insurance and the police will take action, if they consider the vehicle to be parked dangerously, although this effectively means blocking the road, however, these conditions do not apply in this case.”

Mr Hicks said after speaking to the police, he knows the vehicle is not owned by anyone local.

He said the council has powers under the Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act 1978, that allow it to take action against vehicles it considers abandoned which are not dependent upon whether or not the vehicle has a valid MOT and current road tax, but the council is effectively ‘disavowing its powers’.

He added: “This means local residents would in this case have to wait six months until these expire irrespective of the nuisance to road users and pedestrians.”

In response, Mid Sussex District Council said: “The council does not consider this vehicle to be abandoned. It is legally parked, has a registered keeper, a valid MOT and is taxed to be on the road.

“We are currently classed as a Category 1 responder to the Covid-19 pandemic and that is our primary focus at this time.

“I can understand why residents are frustrated. However, it is our policy to consult with Sussex Police on these matters and we agreed that this vehicle is not causing a hazard for other motorists.”