TOW away firms contracted by BCP Council have been removing vehicles when drivers have left them parked in particularly troublesome locations across the conurbation this summer.

While residents have welcomed the removals, which have been in place for several years now, many have called for more cars to be subject to this treatment.

BCP Council has provided details on what faces drivers who have had their vehicles towed away.

Over the weekend, Cllr Beverley Dunlop, portfolio holder for tourism, said removing vehicles can involve aa round trip of 90 minutes for recovery firms in some cases.

The local authority has arrangements in place with Poole-based Bourne Transport and Bournemouth-based GRS Recovery.

Council officers issue penalty charge notices (PCNs) when vehicles are parked illegally. The maximum financial penalty for a PCN is £70, which drops to £35 if paid within 14 days.

The reasons given for why a vehicle will be towed include if it:

  • is parked in a disabled space, but is not displaying a blue badge
  • displays a fake or fraudulent blue badge
  • is parked using a fraudulent permit, voucher, scratch card or pay and display ticket - including fraudulent cashless parking or virtual permits
  • causes dangerous obstruction to emergency services or other road users
  • is found parked illegally on multiple occasions The vehicle will be taken to the storage facility of whichever contractor carried out the removal. Drivers have to arrange collection of their vehicle by calling the companies.

In addition to the requirement to pay the PCN, the driver faces the following costs where appropriate:

  • £105 for the vehicle removal
  • £12 per day for vehicle storage (storage charges apply for each day or part of the day, from midnight (23:59pm) on the day following removal of a vehicle)
  • £50 to dispose of a vehicle