Watch as car suspected of being used in Sunderland flytipping becomes the latest to be seized

Cartoon character Popeye gave the thumbs up from a sticker emblazoned on the side of a vehicle taking the suspect car away from a Sunderland street.

The seizure, from outside an address in Banff Street, Town End Farm, on Thursday, May 7, is the seventh in an ongoing initiative by Sunderland City Council bosses against flytipping complaints.

One vehicle has already been destroyed while another is waiting to be crushed in a crusade backed by the Sunderland Echo’s Clean Streets campaign.

Councils have powers which allow them to confiscate any vehicle they suspect has been involved in environmental crime or flytipping.

Owners can request to claim their vehicle back and local authorities will decide whether it will be returned, crushed or sold.

The latest seizure, on the day that the authority has confirmed plans to reopen its Deptford tip for “essential waste only” following its pandemic-enforced closure, has prompted the city council to urge residents not to dispose of their waste irresponsibly and to warn that it can and will take action.

Councillor Amy Wilson, cabinet member for environment and transport, said: “We are continuing to take action against anyone who we suspect is involved in fly tipping because we know what a damaging impact this can have on communities across our city.

"Where there is evidence to suggest that a vehicle has been involved in flytipping, we have the powers to seize it and follow this up with legal action.

“If the owner doesn’t come forward within a certain period of time, can result in us using our legal powers to either crush it or sell it."I would urge anyone tempted to dump their waste rather then arranging to have it disposed of responsibly to think again.

“It's much cheaper to arrange for a bulky collection through the council for £10 than risk your vehicle being seized if you're caught fly tipping."

To book a bulky collection for up to six items of bulky waste for £10, go to www.sunderland.gov.uk/bulky-waste

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world.

But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you

How to subscribe to the print edition:

It’s easy to subscribe to your local newspaper. We have arranged a special 20 per cent off subscription offer for people to take advantage of.

Visit www.localsubsplus.co.uk, choose the newspaper title, the type of subscription and enter your details.