Abandoned Vehicles & Nuisance Parking

Is there an abandoned, untaxed or nuisance vehicle outside your house? If so, contact E.L.V.I.S - the End of Life Vehicle Impound Scheme.

This is a joint operation between Northamptonshire's Arson Task Force, Northamptonshire Police, Northamptonshire County Council and all the district and borough councils in Northamptonshire. When you contact us we will need the registration number, make and model, colour, location and the condition of the vehicle. The E.L.V.I.S team aim to inspect abandoned and nuisance cars within 24 hours of notification and remove them within 48 hours, if appropriate.

How do you report an abandoned vehicle?

• Report the problem online
• Email elvis.recovery@northants.police.uk
• Telephone E.L.V.I.S on 08456 121 999

DPC is aware of parking on the pavements across the village, however the pavement is not a public right of way as defined in the definitive map and therefore it is not illegal to park on a pavement outside of London. You can, however, still get a fine for doing so in some instances.

Since 1974, Highway Code rule 244 has stated that drivers "MUST NOT park partially or wholly on the pavement in London and should not do so elsewhere unless signs permit it."

The key things to note here are the words must not and should not.

In London, you must not park on the pavement, the must indicating there is legislation behind this rule and you could receive a fine for breaking it.

However, outside of the capital or "elsewhere", the Highway Code states drivers should not park on the pavement, meaning it is advisory and not, therefore, backed up by any legislation.

Rule 242 states: "You MUST NOT leave your vehicle or trailer in a dangerous position or where it causes any unnecessary obstruction of the road."

This is a must not, again, meaning if your car is reported or seen by a police officer and judged to be either in a dangerous position or causing an unnecessary obstruction of the road, you could receive a Fixed Penalty Notice.

Only the Police can determine if this car is in dangerous position or causing an unnecessary obstruction. Have you contacted the Safer Community Team at Northamptonshire Police? , they would be able to advise if this is causing an obstruction and issue a fixed penalty notice. STCTowcesterRural@northants.police.uk or 0300 111 222.

The Government is looking at this issue and a consultation was launched in August 2020, transport secretary Grant Shapps said: "Parking on pavements means wheelchair users, visually impaired people and parents with pushchairs can be forced into the road, which is not only dangerous, but discourages people from making journeys.

"A key part of our green, post-Covid recovery will be encouraging more people to choose active travel, such as walking, so it is vital that we make the nation's pavements accessible for everyone.

"Pavement parking presents a clear safety risk when parked cars occupy the pavement and force vulnerable pedestrians to move into the road."

I am afraid that DPC have no powers to remove vehicles and as there is no legislation preventing parking on the pavement, we cannot lobby anyone to get the vehicle removed.

We hope that the Government see sense and make this illegal which DPC supports and we can then develop a policy to get this sort of antisocial and dangerous behaviour off our streets.