YORK could adopt an abandoned car amnesty scheme to help people get rid of unwanted cars, as part of a raft of measures to create a cleaner, safer city.

The proposed scheme, which City of York Council is investigating, alongside the police, would enable members of the public to have their vehicles removed free of charge.

Other councils across the United Kingdom, including Selby, have been testing out similar proposals.

The measure stems from guidelines issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), which state that people want to live somewhere that is: "Clean and free from antisocial behaviour and the fear of crime."

Abandoned cars are a major problem in York. Figures for 2003/4 show that 1,216 abandoned vehicles were reported, taking on average almost ten days to be removed. Cars left abandoned are often vandalised or even torched (six per cent), becoming a distressing eyesore.

It is thought some people do not know how to go about disposing of their vehicles legitimately. Tougher rules from the DVLA, requiring owners of untaxed vehicles to complete Statutory Off-Road Notifications (SORN) have left many confused by the complex paperwork involved.

Liberal Democrat councillor Andrew Waller, executive member for the environment and sustainability, said: "From the evidence collected around the country, it seems that if you help people with the paperwork, it takes cars that would otherwise be dumped out of the system."

Coun Waller, who is also the council's deputy leader, said there was also a strong link between dumped cars and the criminal fraternity.

"The police are interested in this scheme because some abandoned vehicles are used as pool cars by criminals, who move them about from location to location," he said.

The council and the police will examine the proposals over the coming months to determine whether the amnesty would prove cost-effective.

One of the most costly aspects of the scheme would be vehicle storage, with the most valuable vehicles requiring storage of 28 days.

Updated: 08:38 Thursday, September 02, 2004