Council celebrates success in battle against traders illegally selling cars from the roadside

Colchester Borough Council has won a major victory in its battle against people selling cars by the side of the road.

On 8 January a Colchester man who was previously convicted for selling vehicles from the side of Ipswich Road and Cowdray Avenue, was given a post conviction ASBO. This means that he is now prohibited from leaving any motor vehicle on a road where it is displayed or advertised for sale in the Borough of Colchester, either by himself, or by instructing or encouraging someone else to do so.

This case was successfully brought by Colchester Borough Council in partnership with Essex Trading Standards, in light of the new Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 which makes it an offence to sell cars as a business from the roadside, subject to specific criteria. 

Cllr Christopher Arnold, Portfolio Holder for Street Services, said: "Residents in the Ipswich Road and Cowdray Avenue areas have had to put up with this nuisance for a long time and I am sure they will be as delighted with this result as I am.  It sends a clear message to would-be traders that the Council will not tolerate cars being sold from the roadside.  These cars not only make our streets look a mess but also distract drivers and so compromise road safety.  The new Act gives us the opportunity to crack down on this practice and we shall not hesitate to use it again in other areas should the need arise.

"We would also advise people not to buy a car in these circumstances as they really cannot be sure exactly what they're buying."

County Councillor Roger Walters Executive Member for Trading Standards said: "The selling of cars at the roadside is a constant nuisance in Towns and Parishes. Not only are these cars often of dubious title and quality, the vendors often have no regard for public property often placing their cars on verges and other public land. I am very pleased that we have been able to deal with one of the most troublesome culprits in Colchester by a joint operation between Trading Standards and Colchester Borough Council."

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Press release issued: January 16 2007