TOUGHER measures have been called for to rid Thanet’s streets and car parks of abandoned and vandalised cars. The plea has been made by ward councillor Sandy Ezekiel following the dumping of a Sierra estate and an Audi estate at the municipal Harold Road car park in Cliftonville.

The Sierra, with keys still in the ignition, had smashed windows, slashed tyres, the exhaust ripped off and laying on the tarmac beside it. It is full of wood, concrete, old tyres, part of a gas fire, pieces of house door and rubble, with only enough space inside for someone to drive.

The Audi windows were broken, a tyre cut, and the ignition and front fascia have been ripped out, leaving wires hanging.

Cllr Ezekiel said:” Dumped cars are dangerous. Inevitably there is broken glass and sharp and rusty pieces of metal. When they have been left full of rubbish, like the Sierra, they resemble a mobile skip. We cannot allow stolen or unwanted cars to be left anywhere in Thanet, particularly in public places and specifically where children could get access to them.

“I would like to see a law introduced that makes the last recorded owner of the vehicle responsible for it, unless of course it has been reported stolen. The council highways team has responded well to the problem of dumped vehicles but it appears they do not have enough power to eradicate the problem. Tougher measures and new legislation would surely help.”