LOCALS have slammed a pick-up that has been abandoned on a street for so long that a council had to tarmac around it when resurfacing the road.
Residents of Marina Gardens in Weymouth, Dorset have claimed the “eyesore” truck has not been moved since June 2021 and has begun gathering filth.
However, Dorset Council has previously said that since the vehicle is taxed it does not count as being abandoned, and is therefore within its legal right to be on the road.
Carl Jones, who has owned a holiday home in Marina Gardens for the past three years, said: “That van never moves. It’s an eyesore. It is terrible, and it is worse for my neighbours who are here all of the time.
“When I saw the resurfacing I could not believe it, I have never seen anything like that in my life.
“I am in construction myself, I have my own company. I’d have picked the wagon up, tarmacked and then put it back.
“If it was me I would put letters out every road near here and say if you don’t claim the car it is going.”
The 1963 Ford was first registered with the DVLA in June 2018 but has been left abandoned for years, according to residents.
While the pick-up appears to be taxed until June next year, we could not find any records of its last MOT date.
Marina Gardens had been resurfaced for the first time in almost 30 years in March, but a 30ft by 10ft patch around the truck had to be left untouched.
Mr Berry, another resident, said: “The company who did the tarmacking said it must be worth about £25,000.
“It has been there for three years, dumped there.
“I have had people knocking on my door wanting to buy it – it is a collector’s item.
“It ruins the view of the road. When it came, it was immaculate and now it has gone to rack and ruin.”
The vehicle also now appears to have become a bin, with bags discarded in the back that residents have said they are forced to tidy up.
There’s also mould now growing underneath the truck.
Mr Berry added: “People now just leave their dog poo bags… they use it like a bin and we have to clear it out.
“It is such a shame really because it is such a nice classic truck that was fully restored.
“All of the neighbours round here are fed up with it.”
The Council had previously said it commenced a legal process to enable the removal of the vehicle, but noted that it takes “time and money” and had urged the owner to remove the vehicle to save “Council taxpayers”.
However, now the council has said the truck could be towed away by November under the Road Traffic Regulation Act if the owner does not come forward.
A Dorset Council spokesperson said: “We are applying for a Clearway Temporary Traffic Regulation Notice (TTRN) under Section 9 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, to prohibit stopping, loading, parking, and waiting.
“In order to comply with statutory noticing periods, the Clearway TTRN takes 13 weeks to enact, as such we anticipate completion by the end of October.
“If this vehicle still remains on site and obstructs our work, it can then be towed away under this notice to a designated collection area.”
