THERE has been a sharp decline in the number of abandoned vehicles on the streets since the introduction of a new initiative by Vale Royal Borough Council, according to a new report.

The scheme, which was launched last spring in conjunction with Cheshire Police and Cheshire Fire Brigade, sought to reduce the number of vehicles abandoned in Vale Royal.

The project introduced a number of new methods for dealing with the problem, including:

l The immediate removal of any abandoned vehicle deemed to be dangerous by the police under the provision of the Road Traffic Regulations Act, 1984.

l New out-of-hours services, operated by the police, to quickly remove any vehicle that could be the target of vandalism and arson.

l The piloting of a 'vehicle surrender scheme'.

The report to the council's environment review committee revealed the council had dealt with 750 abandoned cars since the scheme was introduced, compared with 945 in 2002-3.

Clr Malcolm Gaskill, lead councillor for environmental management, said the scheme was helping to create a cleaner, safer environment for residents in the area.

He said: "Previously, abandoned vehicles would be left for up to seven days before being towed away and destroyed. These cars became dangerous playgrounds for children and magnets for vandalism and arson.

"Now we can remove these vehicles within 48 hours and at any time of the day, which prevents them from becoming a magnet for anti-social behaviour and dangerous activities, making Vale Royal an even safer place for our residents."

rbabington@guardiangrp.co.uk