MP Warns of Abandoned Car 'Epidemic'

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 19th Jun 2002

On the 'Today' programme this morning, Vincent Cable MP warned that a new government policy requiring the last owner of cars to pay to turn in their vehicle for recycling will result in "an epidemic of abandoned cars".

"In the borough we already have far too many old cars abandoned because cars cannot pass the MOT and their owners cannot afford to keep them on the road. This new rule will massively increase the numbers. The cost to councils and the police is already around £500m nationally. Every abandoned car set on fire costs the police and fire services over £5,000. The costs will spiral."

"The problem is that the government is frightened to impose a small levy on the manufacturers to pay for recycling and is leaving responsibility to the last owners - mostly people on low incomes with old bangers - who will abandon them."