Dumped cars cause problems

A drop in the price of scrap metal is being blamed for the number of abandoned vehicles being dumped in Fife.

Insurance rates may also be a factor, with models beyond a certain age now effectively undriveable because of the cost of coverage.

And since local councils are responsible for dealing with unwanted vehicles, taxpayers are often left to foot the bill for their removal and destruction.

Across Fife there were 59 vehicles uplifted in 2015, followed by 128 in 2016 and 93 so far this year.

The council said it could not give a breakdown of the costs.

However, figures gathered by The Courier from other areas suggest it could be a costly business.

In Angus, 19 vehicles were uplifted in 2015, followed by 34 in 2016 and 24 so far this year.

There, the costs were £675, £1,635 and £1,455, respectively.

Elsewhere, Dundee City Council could only give figures for 2015 and 2016 where the numbers jumped from five to 50 and the costs from £1,940 and £7,115.

In Perth and Kinross there were 25 abandoned cars in 2015, 56 in 2016 and 16 so far this year, although there was no cost to the public purse as Perth Auto Recyclers picks them up.

People can report abandoned vehicles in their area online at the council website.

Owners have also been urged not to dump unwanted vehicles by the side of the road or on someone else’s property.