INDIVIDUALS selling dangerous vehicles from the district's verges have been caught in the act thanks to a crackdown by a partnership of local agencies.
INDIVIDUALS selling dangerous vehicles from the district's verges have been caught in the act thanks to a crackdown by a partnership of local agencies.
After receiving intelligence from a number of sources, Waveney District Council's environmental health team joined forces with representatives of Suffolk County Council's Trading Standards and VOSA (Vehicle and Operator Services Agency) in a bid to tackle nuisance parking in the district.
On Tuesday December 15, working in partnership, officers attended a site to investigate the offence of nuisance parking (the illegal selling of two or more vehicles within 500 metres of each other - Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005).
Trading Standards were able to provide advice on the legal aspects of selling motor vehicles and the VOSA inspector placed prohibitions on three of the vehicles displayed for sale because they were in a dangerous condition and unfit for use on the road.
It is their intention to make further enquiries into a local MOT station which had recently issued one of the prohibited vehicles with an MOT.
Environmental Health issued three Fixed Penalty Notices in respect of the offence of "nuisance parking" (repairing or selling vehicles on the highway).
Information was also passed to Benefit fraud investigators in respect of persons engaged in running a vehicle sales business while also claiming benefits.
Councillor Ken Sale, portfolio holder for environment said: 'Using the roadside verges and lay-bys as mock showrooms for car sales businesses is unfair to residents and businesses.
'It takes up parking spaces, causing a nuisance to residents wishing to park their own and their visitors' cars and it damages local, legitimate trade. It is also a hazard to road users as people slow down to check out the price.
'This exercise has also demonstrated that the roadside is not the safest place to buy a car. It is shocking to think that, but for the actions of the agencies involved, three dangerous vehicles would still be on the road.'
Mick Southwick, environment protection officer said: 'We will continue to work with other agencies and build on the relationships we've already forged to combat these and other offences that take place in the district of Waveney.'
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