Saltpans’ abandoned cars to be removed, douzaine warns

There are now seven vehicles sitting on the roadside, after one car owner was tracked down and arranged the removal of their vehicle.

The douzaine and Kenilworth Vineries are working together to get the remaining cars removed and they intend to place large boulders there to avoid it happening again in the future.

St Sampson’s parish constable Paul Le Pelley said residents have been regularly complaining about the site at parish surgery meetings.

‘There’s been growing irritation among residents and parishioners,’ said Mr Le Pelley.

‘It’s the most commonly raised issue – it is for the benefit of the whole parish that they get removed.’

Attempts to get the vehicles removed have been ongoing for some time, but the parish has faced plenty of challenges.

Data protection laws have made it difficult for the authorities to track down the owners.

‘GDPR may be almost too good a law – it is meant to protect people but it’s meant we can’t find out who to contact,' said Mr Le Pelley.

Vehicle Licensing has agreed to forward letters to registered owners, he said.

Two of the cars are not registered locally, which has delayed the process further.

‘One has a UK registration and one is from Jersey, so getting in touch with the right authorities has been difficult.’

The cars must be removed by their owners before 15 September. If no response has been received by then the parish will consider the vehicles to be abandoned, and will arrange for their removal.

Instead of charging fly-tippers, land owners are liable under Guernsey law to pay fines and other expenses.

If the vehicles are not removed, Mr Le Pelley was concerned that the parish would be liable to pay.

‘It’s a really poor law. It costs £30 for each car and we will have to pay to transport the boulders to the site afterwards.’