Immobile white van dumped in Spurling Road- eyesore!

[picknmix]

This white van has been parked on top of Spurling Road for months. It takes parking space from others and worse, it's an eyesore -flat and abandoned. Somebody has put graffiti on it. It covers that beautiful art paint on the corner building.

[se22cat]

Somebody was living in it for a while,not sure if that's still the case, there were some bottles of leftover energy drink left around it too on the pavement the other week.

[Earl Aelfheah]

If it's taxed and insured, it's entitled to be there. It is a shame that it permanently obscures the artwork though.

[stevie23b]

locate the owner and give him a good bootin.

[solar]

Now that you don't have to display a tax disc it is not easy for the public to see whether a vehicle is taxed.

[picknmix]

I always look out who's ever going to come near that van and open the door - but no luck until now SE22cat. It may not be illegal for someone to sleep in their vehicle But not everyday ! It should move from time to time in a different location. This van is literally flat and undriven for more than 6months now. You are right Solar- it is difficult to know if it's taxed or not because tax discs aren't displayed any longer.

[ratty]

Ugh, can't they move it somewhere poor, like Grove Park or even Gravesend??

[Otta]

picknmix Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> It takes parking space from others and worse, it's an eyesore

Love it

[DulwichFox]

solar Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Now that you don't have to display a tax disc it

> is not easy for the public to see whether a

> vehicle is taxed.

It's easy :- https://www.gov.uk/check-vehicle-tax

You'll need

the registration number of the vehicle

the make of the vehicle

DulwichFox

[solar]

I've just tried this with my own car and yes it is easy. However how many people are going to bother checking online to see if an abandoned vehicle is taxed? (My car is taxed by the way!)

[ultrauk]

Has this van been moved?

[James Barber]

email me its number plate and I will get it removed assuming as stated it isn't road worthy.

[Blah Blah]

If the van has a valid MOT, insurance and Tax James, there's nothing you can do to remove it if someone claims ownership. Easy to check it's status online fromthe number plate.

[dennis]

Take up James's offer. I had a similar car and van 'parked' outside my house a couple of years ago.

If it looks abandoned or is unroadworthy/dangerous i.e.flat tyres the council can issue an order and remove.

[James Barber]

From this thread I've had 4 such instances emailed to me and all are progressing with council officers. Some had been repeatedly raised with Southwark Council by residents without success so effectively I've been used to escalate each one and I'm assured they're being investigated. Three have lapsed tax disks and appear un road worthy.

[Blah Blah]

Cars don't display tax discs any more James. The only way to check tax now is on the dvla database.

[boonkoh]

As much as people moan about councils turning streets into residents permit parking zones only, it solves this problem of people dumping cars on streets with free parking. I live on one of those streets, and while I haven't had abandoned vehicles left, I have had all sorts of tradesmen, commuters, vacationers, etc dumping their cars for days or weeks on end.

In fact, it is neigh impossible to find a parking spot on a weekday evening, but come Friday evening, the whole road is empty!

[Earl Aelfheah]

Dumping a car for a few days (also known as 'parking' it), is not really the issue here. Local tradesmen, commuters and visitors to the area need to use the streets too.

[Penguin68]

As much as people moan about councils turning streets into residents permit parking zones only, it solves this problem of people dumping cars on streets with free parking.

Dumping cars (which are not taxed and insured, or which are stolen) has a ready remedy - the police will handle these. Parking cars which are legally owned, taxed and insured is a legal right - the price of freedom from local authority money-grubbing through controlled parking is that (sometimes) cars which are foreign (to you) make use of that freedom. Small abuses of this freedom may annoy, but that is the price of freedom, and one well worth paying in many people's eyes. Societies which are overly 'tidy' (tidying away nuisances, eyesores etc.) are societies which are lapsing into ways to which democracy and liberty are strangers. I have also been annoyed by vehicles parked-up which are there too long (in my opinion), or in a bad state or repair, or dirty, or old, or in my way - but that annoyance is a reasonable price to pay not to live in a society which doesn't allow these things to happen.

[apbremer]

There is one old van smothered in graffiti parked in posh Burbage Road by the railway bridge, It has been there for months. It most be driving the locals potty!

[James Barber]

Hi P68,

I thought Switzerland rather tify and they have referndums about lots of things - perhaps the exception proves your rule.

Hi apbremer,

You could email environment@southwark.gov.uk aboutthat van. if you don't get a response feel free to escalate to me.

Hi Blahblah,

indeed but they still showed tax discs that were lapsed. Not unreasonable to suggest they may not have renewed this tax. Either way several cars now removed across the area as a result of this thread.

[BrandNewGuy]

James Barber Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> indeed but they still showed tax discs that were

> lapsed. Not unreasonable to suggest they may not

> have renewed this tax.

I still have my old tax discs showing ? do I have to worry about being towed away, even though no-one needs to display a tax disc any more?

[James Barber]

Hi BNG,

Worried might be too strong a word but I would recommend removing it.