Release date: 15/03/2010
By: Charlie Masson Smith
Telephone
020 8871 6173
or email cmassons@wandsworth.gov.uk
Cars 'for sale' hogged parking spaces
Car dealers who have been illegally using a busy residential street in Tooting to store vehicles they are trying to sell have been dealt a financial blow after the council towed them away.
Following complaints from residents the council has removed three Mercedes cars that had been hogging parking spaces in Mitcham Lane for weeks. The three vehicles are valued together at around £6,000.
It is against the law to offer cars for sale on the highway.
One of the owners has since contacted the council to ask for his car back. He is now likely to face prosecution for unlicensed street trading. The owner of the other two vehicles is also facing a summons to appear in court for the same offence.
Transport spokesman Cllr Guy Senior said: "There is absolutely no excuse for dealers in the motor trade to be using residential parking spaces to store their vehicles.
"I should stress that we are not trying to prevent private individuals from putting notes in their car windows to say it's for sale. Our efforts are aimed solely at professional motor traders who are hogging residents' parking spaces to flog their wares."
Residents who wish to report car dealers using their streets to store vehicles should telephone (020) 8871 6708. This number can also be used to report abandoned vehicles.
ENDS
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