Used car dealership ordered to remove vehicles
A used car dealership has been given an order to remove scrap cars it has been storing on a council car park.
Bosses of Aldridge Commercials, based on Progress Drive, Bridgtown, have been told by Cannock Chase Council that they have until January 12 to stop putting their 'end of life' vehicles on the car park, which is also on Progress Drive, an industrial area, and to remove any that are already being stored there.
The behaviour was branded 'irresponsible' by councillor Eddie Smith, chairman of Bridgtown Parish Council, who said: "Obviously this is a concern because it degrades the area.
"Progress Drive is an industrial area but there is no excuse for them to use this car park in that way. We do have issues with car parks in the village but it has been a long time since council property has been treated like this.
"It is just irresponsible, why would they just dump these cares there in a council car park when they know what the consequences will be?
"It is unfortunate that we can't deal with the issue directly and have to issue these warnings, but it is not within our powers to take things into our own hands in that way."
When the council was first tipped off about the illegal use of the car park, Environmental Services contacted the company advising them to remove their vehicles, which led to some being removed.
After visiting the site earlier this month, officers from the councils Environmental Protection and Licensing teams were promised by the company that all of the vehicles will be removed.
Mike Walker, environmental protection manager, said: "The Environmental Protection Team was alerted to the situation in an email from the Environment Agency last week suggesting that the car park was being used as an End of Life vehicle site, namely for the storage and dismantling of scrap vehicles.
"Officers from the EP and Licensing Teams attended the site on the Monday 15th December to determine whether the activities fell within the remit of the Scrap Metal Dealers Act.
"Advice was given to the Company responsible for the activities regarding licensing issues and officers were given an undertaking by the Company to ensure that the vehicles were removed by 12th January 2015.
"Officers will carry out a further inspection of the site on this date and if the vehicles have not been removed formal proceedings will be commenced to secure their removal."
Cannock Chase Council's environmental protection team investigates matters relating to air pollution, noise, contaminated land, flytipping, public health nuisances and pests.
Aldridge Commercials did not respond for a comment from the Express & Star.
