Telford & Wrekin Council is using new powers to remove untaxed and abandoned vehicles from public roads as part of an effort to keep local neighbourhoods cleaner and safer. The council is targeting vehicles that have been left untaxed for more than two months, as well as cars that have been declared as off-road but are still being kept on public streets.
The enforcement is part of the Pride in Our Community programme, which is seeing £50m invested to keep neighbourhoods clean, green and safe. Councillor Richard Overton, the council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Highways, Housing and Enforcement, said the council would not tolerate vehicles cluttering streets and warned that those who dump cars in the borough can expect them to be removed quickly.
Council officials note that a vehicle may be classed as abandoned if it has not moved for at least two weeks, is untaxed, or shows signs of neglect such as flat tyres or removed wheels, broken windows, rust or mould, missing number plates, wires hanging from the dashboard, or if it’s in an unusual or unsafe location. The council often works with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency and West Mercia Police to carry out these operations.
When a vehicle is seized, it must be claimed within 14 days, or the owner faces a £200 fine and the vehicle will be disposed of through either crushing or auction. Owners of clamped vehicles also face a release fee starting at £100, which increases to £200 after 24 hours, plus additional impound costs.
Recent examples of this work include the removal of 15 abandoned vehicles from Stafford Park in April 2025 and the seizure of an untaxed car in Ketley in March 2026. Residents are encouraged to report abandoned vehicles using the MyTelford app, the council’s website, or via Telford & Wrekin Watch for anonymous reporting.
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