NEW moves to end the blight of abandoned and untaxed vehicles on the borough's streets have been launched.

As a first step in a London-wide crackdown on nuisance vehicles, Richmond upon Thames Council will arrange for the removal of any unwanted vehicle, at the request of the owner, free of charge. Up till now owners have had to pay £25.

This new "take-back" service is a joint initiative between the London boroughs, the Association of London Government (ALG) and the Home Office.

In addition, new legislation allows for vehicles classed as abandoned to be inspected and removed more speedily. The council will aim to clear them off the streets within a target time of 24 hours after expiry of the statutory notice.

If an unwanted car is abandoned either on the street or elsewhere, the keeper will be held responsible and, in addition to a fine on prosecution, will be required to shoulder the council's costs of removing and dismantling it.

Alongside this action on dumped vehicles, untaxed ones will be clamped in an initiative set to start later this year.

If owners fail to pay a surety to the DVLA, or come forward with proof of a valid road fund licence, the vehicles will be removed and may be destroyed.

"This new London-wide purge on dumped and untaxed cars is being funded by the Home Office via the ALG.

Richmond Council's cabinet member for environment and planning, Cllr David Marlow, praised the initiative and said: "Clean, attractive streets are one of the key priorities under our Civic Pride programme. That is why we are playing a full part in this initiative to combat the eyesore of abandoned vehicles which can spoil the overall look of neighbourhoods.

"With this free take-back service, there really is no excuse for unwanted vehicles to be dumped on the street.

If any resident wishes to report an abandoned vehicle, or wants to take advantage of the free take-back service for unwanted vehicles, call 020 8891 7052 for further information.